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the work of the associations and other organizations at present concerned with adult education, and it is hoped to give effect to the Committee's recommendation during the coming year. It is also hoped to increase still further the grant available in the coming year for the Workers' Educational Association, adult education generally, and for extending the benefits of the Workers' Educational Association to workers employed in construction work in isolated districts and living in publicworks camps. The roll of the Education Department's Correspondence School again increased during the year. Previously a pupil could not be enrolled in the Correspondence School unless his home was more than four miles from an existing school, but now the distance-limit is graduated according to the following scale : Up to seven years of age, two miles ; from seven to eleven years of age, three miles ; over eleven years of age, three miles and a half. Distance-limits do not apply to cases of physical disability. In the secondary department the Correspondence School is providing instruction for young people in employment, including postal cadets and junior assistants in Native schools, and teachers in Grade 0 schools. The age-limit for secondary pupils, which was formerly the end of the term in which they became nineteen years of age, may be extended on consideration of each individual case. A special class has been provided for children who have been handicapped by lack of opportunity. In the May holidays of 1936 an exhibition of work was organized at the Correspondence School, and was attended by a large number of parents and others interested in this method of education. The Correspondence School continues to fulfil most successfully the functions for which it was established. On the 7th July, 1936, Secretaries of Education Boards, and on the two following days representatives of Education Boards, met in conference at Wellington. The matters dealt with covered a wide field, and the resolutions passed received my careful consideration. Arising out of a recommendation of the conference, I approved the setting-up of a Committee representative of Education Boards, the New Zealand Educational Institute, and the Department to consider the question of a new salary scale for teachers in public schools, as well as the staffing of schools and the grading of teachers. On the 2nd", 3rd, and 4th September, 1936, a conference was called by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to consider matters relating to the education, health, and the economic position of the Maori race. The resolutions affecting education passed by the conference dealt mainly with the teaching of the Maori language in Native schools, the curriculum in Maori secondary schools, and the provision of scholarships for children of the Maori race. Action has already been taken in regard to the principal recommendations. It is intended to provide a text-book on the Maori language for use in Native post-primary schools, and a sufficient sum will, I hope, be made available for the purpose, as also will be an extra provision for material for manual instruction in Native schools. The regulations relating to Native schools dealing with the award of scholarships open to children of the Maori race will be amended in 1937 to make provision for scholarships tenable in the final years of a post-primary course, and for additional scholarships tenable at post-primary schools and at University Colleges. Previously the tenure of scholarships available for Maori children at post-primary schools was restricted to the first two years of the course. On Ist and 2nd December, 1936, vocational-guidance officers met in conference with officers of the Education and Labour Departments to consider the question of vocational guidance and vocational training and placement. Matters relating generally to the employment of young people in industry and the means whereby the most effective use of the services of the officers concerned could be made were discussed. Arising out of this conference it is intended, to provide the services of a specially selected male and female teacher at each of the technical high schools in the four main centres, who will, to commence with, devote at least half of their time to the duties of vocational-guidance officers. Such teachers will also coordinate the work of the careers teachers in the school with that of the Employment Committees and the Employment Branch of the Labour Department. It is intended to provide in addition one teacher in each secondary and technical high school in

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