E.—2.

Handwork instruction was given in every school, the amount available making it possible to make a liberal supply of materials. Training College Students. —The new method of selecting trainees by a selection committee again proved successful. The selection committee set up consisted of the Chairman of the Board, the Senior Inspector, and the Secretary. Thirty-five students were selected from this district and entered the Christchureh Training College.

CANTERBURY. (Chairman, Mr. J. W. Preen.) Afforestation. —The Board's educational afforestation scheme was carried on during the year at Reserve 1579, North New Brighton, the usual city and suburban schools participating in planting operations. Elementary Handwork in Primary Schools. —Handwork exercises as a medium for hand and eye training were carried on in the primary schools throughout the year. It was found possible to issue material on a slightly more liberal basis than heretofore, and this has no doubt resulted in a greater measure of success being attained in this subject of the curriculum. Manual Training. —The usual courses of work were conducted during the year at all the manualtraining centres controlled by the Board. It is pleasing to note that greater interest in this aspect of education is being manifested by parents and the public generally, particularly in country districts. Agricultural Instruction and Related Activities. —The prolonged holidays at the beginning of 1937 adversely affected the agricultural work of the schools, particularly as regards preparatory operations for autumn efforts. Approximately 80 per cent, of the schools in Canterbury applied for and received trees and shrubs required for ornamentation and other purposes. The St. Martins Nursery is serving a very useful purpose in providing such a service at a low operating-cost to the Board. Physical Instruction. —The importance of physical instruction in the present-day life of the child is generally acknowledged by teachers, and the Board is glad to learn that this important subject receives careful attention. Teachers render excellent service in the supervision and direction of sports and games. Arrangements for football, hockey, cricket, and swimming contests all denote much preparation during hours outside the time-table. The community owes a debt of gratitude to teachers for the time ungrudgingly given to activities that make for physical development and tend to the building-up of intellectual vigour and moral worth. Members, however, view with concern the recent alarming increase in the number of drowning accidents and fatalities which in practically all cases have been attributable to inability to swim. The Board is of opinion that the time has arrived when swimming and life-saving instruction should receive definite and urgent attention, and suggests that the capitation which was payable in predepression years to teachers who gave such instruction might now with advantage be restored, and that subsidies in aid of baths should again be made available.

OTAGO. (Chairman, Mr. J. Wallace, 0.8. E.) Dunedin Training. College—Towards the end of the year intimation was received of a grant for the erection of a new training college. The preparation of plans and specifications will be put in hand at once, and it is anticipated that the new building will be ready for occupation during the first term in 1939. School Dental Service. —The Board anticipates the establishment of several new clinics as additional Dental Nurses become available. At present there are twenty-five trained Dental Nurses in the Otago District. Strong dental-clinic committees are in charge of each treatment centre, and it is largely due to their tactful management that the contribution system continues to operate so satisfactorily. School Committees. —The School Committees continue to faithfully carry out all the duties devolving upon them. The Board is indebted to many School Committees for initiating improvements in the school environment; indeed, more and more Committees are taking the initiative in asking for the remodelling of buildings and the improvement of the grounds. There is evidence of an increasing consciousness on the part of School Committee men that what was good enough for them is not good enough for their children. School Libraries. —-The Board is co-operating with the Dunedin City library in a scheme which will eventually offer to all country schools at a small charge the lending-service facilities at present given to Dunedin schools as part of the city service to its ratepayers. Plans have also been completed for the establishment of reference libraries for children's use in all schools willing to take advantage of special subsidies offered by the Board. With the new freedom in the schools, the Board is satisfied that a library of good reference books for the children has become a necessity. The Government grant, together with subsidies from the Board, provided schools with 12,195 additional supplementary readers.

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