Pi—l.

The movement to put Child Welfare work on a more definitely professional basis and thereby increase its usefulness has been pressed steadily forward in spite of acute staffing problems arising from the war. Weraroa Boys' Training Farm is, I am pleased to say, a completely changed institution, and should soon be housed in the new buildings, which are almost completed. A receiving home at Napier which was closed during the depression has been reopened. Figures concerning the Child Welfare Branch, usually given in this report, will be found this year in E.-4. The Child Welfare Branch played a leading part in the scheme for settling in New Zealand homes children from the more dangerous areas in Great Britain. Before the scheme was temporarily suspended 202 children were successfully placed; the Child Welfare Branch, working in conjunction with local committees, was responsible for placing the children and for keeping in touch with them subsequently. Under the British Children Emergency Regulations 1940, all the children are wards of the Superintendent of Child Welfare. With remarkably few exceptions the children have settled quickly and happily into their new homes. During the year an officer of the Department was made full-time Research Officer, with the duty of investigating problems lying in the Department's immediate line of advance. The New Zealand Council for Educational Research has continued its valuable series of research studies. Two of particular interest to the Department were published during the year —John Nicol's " The Technical Schools of New Zealand," and H. C. McQueen's " Vocational Guidance in New Zealand." Mr. McQueen's study was undertaken at the invitation of my predecessor, and should prove a valuable basis for discussion when the time is opportune to review the organization of vocational guidance in this country. It has been decided to take over in 1941 the full financial responsibility for the four Museum Educational Officers who were appointed three years ago and financed partly by the Government and partly by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The experiment has been so successful as to warrant its inclusion in the ordinary educational system, and I should like to express the Government's gratitude to the Carnegie Corporation for its assistance in stimulating this work and assisting with its support in the crucial early years. The Council of Adult Education has continued to distribute to the local organizations concerned the funds granted by the Government for the work of adult education. In my last report I mentioned the retirement of Mr. N. T. Lambourne, 1.5.0., M.A., from the position of Director of Education. His place was taken by Dr. C. E. Beeby, who was in turn replaced as Assistant Director by Mr. A. F. McMurtrie. Mr. Geo. Overton became Chief Inspector of Primary Schools, and Mr. D. G. Ball took his place as Senior Inspector of Schools in the Department. Although the list of those who have collaborated with the Government in its educational activities during the year is too long to enumerate, I wish to place on record my appreciation of the services given by all the men and women, paid and unpaid, teachers and members of controlling bodies, who worked on behalf of the children of New Zealand during 1940. Note. The tables that follow deal with most matters affecting the different branches of education, but for further details and information reference should be made to the following reports : —■ E.-2 : Primary and Post-primary Education. E.-3 : Education of Native Children. E.-4 : Child Welfare, State Care of Children, Special Schools, and Infant-life Protection. E.-7 : Higher Education. E.-8 : Teachers' Superannuation Fund.

Child welfare.

British children,

Research

Museum Officers.

Adult education,

Staff changes,

Acknowledgments.

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