E.—l.

Towards the end of the year a conference of Principals, Vice-Principals, and Wardens of Women Students was held to discuss a wide range of topics concerning the training of teachers. The resolutions and recommendations adopted were of a very useful nature, among them being one in favour of a committee for each Training College for the purpose of securing greater co-operation between the Training Colleges and the University Colleges. Such a committee was provided in 1936 for the Wellington Training College and has been referred to earlier in this report. In my opinion, it is desirable that Training College students should be brought as closely into touch with the University College students as circumstances will allow, in order that the culture of the University may become incorporated in the course pursued by the teacher-in-training, to be handed on in turn by him to the community in which he will work. To give effect to the decisions of the Government and in some cases to provide for the equitable distribution of the increased grants made available by Parliament it was necessary to amend many of the regulations made under the Education Act, 1914, and to make new regulations. The principal alterations were : — (a) As regards the grading of schools —a regulation providing for grading public and Native schools for the year 1938 on the average roll number for the first four weeks of the third term of the year 1937. This will mean that schools will be graded and staffed on almost, if not quite, " peak " attendance. (b) The Native Schools Regulations —amended to provide for improved staffing in certain grades of schools. (c) The Primary Schools Classification and Certificate—regulations to provide for the issue of a Primary School Certificate to take the place of the Proficiency and Competency Certificates, which were abolished. (d) The kindergarten grants —regulations to provide for the allocation of the increased grant that was made available. (e) The Training College Regulations —provision for increased allowance for students in their third year of training. (/) The fee payable for the admission of certain candidates for the Intermediate Examination was abolished. (g) In the case of certain post-primary school Boards, provision was made for the refund from the Board's incidental expenses grant of the expenses incurred by an applicant for a vacant position in appearing before the Board for an interview at its request. (h) In connection with the inauguration of the milk scheme on a national basis, School Committees were authorized to pay out of their incidental expenses grants for the cost of apparatus for the storing and distribution of milk. (i) The existing regulations relating to bursaries at University Colleges were revoked, and the University National Bursary Regulations, 1937, were made in which provision was made for the award of bursaries on a Higher Leaving Certificate qualification and for additional benefits referred to in my report last year. (k) The regulations relating to payments to Education Boards for school and class libraries were amended to allow the Minister to fix payments in excess of the capitation rate previously in force. This amendment was necessary to allow of the distribution of the increased sum—£s,ooo —on this service. During 1937 there was little legislation affecting education, but provision was made for the validation of certain matters in connection with Wairarapa College and for the reduction of school-tuition fees where the school year is curtailed— e.g., on account of an epidemic. Although the change does not affect my Department directly, it is of interest to record here that legislative provision was made in December, 1937, for the establishment of a New Zealand School of Agriculture in connection with the University of New Zealand for the purpose of

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