E.—2.

CANTERBURY. (Chairman, Mr. G. W. Armitage.) Milk Depots. —In the early part of the year the milk scheme was operating generally throughout the Canterbury District, and milk depots were supplied and fixed at the majority of the schools to protect the milk from sun and dust and to facilitate delivery and distribution. Afforestation. —The Board's educational afforestation scheme at Reserve 1579, North New Brighton, was practically completed during the year. Nursery.- —The Board's nursery at St. Martin's distributed 6,700 shrubs and 41,320 hedge and shelter plants among 193 schools. In view of the forthcoming Centenary planting, a special effort has been made to develop the native section. Elementary Handwork in Primary Schools. —This phase of education again received its due measure of attention. Throughout the year handwork exercises were carried on in all primary schools, the necessary materials for which were provided by the Department and distributed on a more liberal basis than has been the case for the past few years. Manual Training.—The usual courses of instruction were carried on during the year at all manual-training centres controlled by the Board. The Hawarden Centre was officially opened on 10th June, 1938, and pupils from surrounding districts are now conveyed to this centre for manualinstruction purposes. It is gratifying to note that a keener interest in woodwork and domestic-science training is being manifested by parents and the public generally. Agricultural Instruction and Related Activities.—The development of the boys' and girls' agricultural clubs has been the principal feature of this year's work. There were 2,592 entries, and projects were completed by 1,931 pupils. The number participating was practically double that of 1937. Physical Instruction. —This subject continues to receive careful attention from the teachers. Well-spent time and effort is devoted to organized school games under the encouraging supervision of members of the various school staffs. The " Learn to Swim " Campaign has been pursued with keen vigour in Canterbury, and the interest and enthusiasm displayed by teachers and pupils has been highly gratifying. An extract from the report of the Instructor of the Christchurch Municipal Baths is worthy of notice : — " Prom the beginning I have been most agreeably surprised at the progress the children have made, this being a great deal better than that I have been accustomed to with secondary-school classes. A comparison of any of the primary classes with any of the hundreds of the secondary groups that I have had in the last ten years affords the most convincing proof that the best age at which to teach a child to swim is that between the years of ten and twelve." These remarks indicate that the instruction made possible by the grant available for the teaching of this highly important subject is being applied at the correct period of the children's lives. Consolidation.—Signs are not wanting that an intelligent interest is still being taken in consolidation. Although some differences have arisen, nevertheless changes involving the closing of schools have taken place without bitterness. Generally, gratification is felt at the improvement in the attitude towards this question. In a great many instances requests for consolidation have emanated from parents not only of the centre where amalgamation was to be effected, but of the contributing districts. This healthy desire is what is most earnestly wished for. It brings with materialization a " spiritual " co-operation which neither legislation nor persuasion can exalt or perfect. Refresher Courses. —The following refresher courses were held during the year : — The Ashley Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute conducted on 29th and 30th April a course in new art, crafts, infant-room method, and choral speaking ; seventy-two teachers from twenty-seven schools took part. A course was held by the Mid-Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute in Ashburton on 4th and sth November, attention being given to reading, art, canework, and weaving ; sixty-six teachers enrolled. Five hundred and fifty teachers responded to the invitation of the North Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute to be present at the course held in Christchurch on the 18th and 19th. August, the subjects dealt with being reading in all its branches, and handwork. Interest and enthusiasm were shown by the teachers who attended the classes. The officers of the various branches of the New Zealand Educational Institute are to be congratulated on the complete arrangements made. The Board fully recognizes the value of such courses, and welcomes opportunities of rendering assistance to teachers who wish to keep themselves in touch with modern trends.

OTAGO. (Chairman, Mr. J. Wallace, 0.8. E.) Attendance of Pupils. —The average attendance was affected by a widespread and persistent epidemic of measles which commenced in the winter term and continued throughout the year. As schools are now graded and staffed on the roll number there was no need, as in previous years, to delete the term attendances of schools affected by epidemics to the extent of 10 per cent. The average attendance recorded is therefore the actual average, and the percentage of attendance accordingly suffers in comparison with previous years, when epidemic terms were deleted. The New Teachers' Salaries Regulations.—The Board welcomes the new regulations, in that they will go a long way towards the stabilization of school staffs and will encourage teachers to seek and to retain country positions. There is no doubt that the remuneration of the teaching profession should be such as will attract in some measure the best of the young people leaving our secondary schools. In the application of the new regulations the Board leaned towards the avoidance of transfers wherever this could be done with reasonable equity.

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