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Technical High Schools. The enrolment at technical high schools of full-time pupils taking courses under the regulations for manual and technical instruction was 8,911 at the Ist July, 1934, as compared with 8,706 at the corresponding date in the previous year. The enrolment of 8,911 consisted of 4,891 boys and 4.020 girls. Of the boys, 2,418 took industrial courses, 467 agricultural, 799 commercial work, 1.021 a general course, and 170 an art course. Of the girls, 1,533 took the domestic course, 1,800 the commercial course, 404 the general course, and 280 the art course. Manual Training. The total number of pupils receiving instruction in woodwork, metalwork, or domestic subjects under special instructors at manual-training centres was 45,420, as compared with 44,926 in 1933. The numbers attending from primary schools were 16,520 for woodwork, 107 for metalwork, and 15,758 for domestic subjects. Secondary departments of district high schools sent 1,875 pupils for woodwork and 1,749 for domestic subjects. From Forms 1 and II of intermediate schools there were 2,061 pupils for woodwork, 870 for metalwork, and 2,017 for domestic subjects. Private schools sent 2,100 pupils for woodwork and 2,279 for domestic subjects. Examinations. At the August examinations for the teachers' handicraft certificates there were seventeen candidates, of whom six were successful in qualifying for the award of certificates. Of the remaining eleven candidates, one was successful in completing Section I of the examination and one was successful in completing Section 11. Two other candidates also improved their examination status. Of the seventeen candidates who sat the examination, seven failed to improve their position. The following is a summary of the results of the technological examination held in November, 1934 : — Plumbing : Preliminary —Six sat, six passed. Intermediate —Seven sat, six passed. Final — Eight sat, five passed. Motor Mechanics : Final —Two sat, none passed. Motor Mechanics (Minor Course) : Preliminary—Two sat, one passed. Intermediate —One sat, one passed. Carpentry and Joinery : Preliminary—One sat, none passed. Intermediate —Twelve sat, seven passed. Final —Four sat, one passed. Cabinetmaking : Intermediate —Five sat, five passed. Final —Two sat, none passed. Electrical Fitting : Final —One sat, one passed. Engineering Trades : Preliminary —One sat, one passed. Intermediate —Four sat, three passed. Final —Eight sat, five passed. For the whole examination the results were as follow : Preliminary, ten candidates sat and eight passed ; intermediate, twenty-nine sat and twenty-two passed ; final, twenty-five sat and twelve passed ; the totals being sixty-four sat for the examinations and forty-two passed. In 1933 the total number who sat for the examinations was eighty-three, of whom forty-nine passed. The falling off in the total number of candidates is due entirely to the effect of the depression on trades and industry and the consequent reduction in the number of apprentices desiring to enter. In order to offset this effect to some extent, the examination fees were reduced in 1932 by 20 per cent. The examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute continue to be held in New Zealand by the Education Department, but only in the subject of electrical-engineering practice and in special subjects for which no provision is made in connection with the Department's own technological examinations. During 1934 candidates for the City and Guilds Examinations were as follow : — Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade I (Continuous Current) —Seventy-five sat, fifty-eight passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade I (Alternate Current) —Twenty-six sat, fifteen passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade II (Continuous Current) —Thirty-seven sat, fifteen passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Grade II (Alternate Current) —Twenty-eight sat, seven passed. Electrical Engineering Practice : Final —Eleven sat, three passed. Radio Communication Preliminary : Two sat, two passed. Intermediate—One sat, none passed. Final —One sat, one passed. Typography : Grade I—Two sat, two j>assed. Grade II —Two sat, one passed. Minor Course in Gaswork§ Practice : One sat, none passed. Metal-plate Work : Final Grade —One sat, none passed. Plain Cookery : One sat, one passed. The total number of individual candidates was 159, of whom ninety-seven were successful in passing in some section of the examination. As individual candidates are at liberty to enter for both sections of Grade I or Grade II of electrical-engineering practice in the same year, the total entries for all sections of the examinations is in excess of the total individual entries. In conclusion, I wish to express my deep appreciation of the loyal and efficient service in the cause of technical education and manual training given by my colleagues in the Department and by Principals and teachers in schools and classes during the year under review. I have, &c., W. S. LaTrobe, The Director of Education, Wellington. Superintendent of Technical Education.

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