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During the year a further thirteen scholarship pupils from the Islands were brought to New Zealand, bringing the total in three years to forty-six (Samoa, 34; Cook Islands, S ; Niue Island, 4). Three of the first group of Samoan pupils brought to New Zealand in 1945 have completed the School Certificate Examination, and the two from Niue have now gone to Central Medical School, Fiji. Maori Schools The number of children in Maori schools continues to increase. The 1947 total of 13,170 is 516 more than the total in 1946. Three new Maori district high schools have been established at Ruatoki, Te Kaha, and Murupara. Thirty-one Maori students entered Training College in 1947, and three University scholarships were granted. In a series of meetings round the East Coast between Wairoa and Tauranga the Inspectors met groups of teachers and many representatives of the Maori School Committees. There was much interest in the information supplied, and representatives of the Maori communities expressed great satisfaction with the success of Maori students entering the teaching profession, and in the expansion of facilities for secondary and university education. Higher Education Accommodation for very large numbers of students at the University colleges is still a problem, though the temporary buildings provided at all the colleges have lessened the difficulties. Only limited work on permanent buildings is possible at present, but the new pathology block at Ota,go University is nearing completion. The new School of Physical Education at Otago University was opened at the beginning of the 1948 session. An appointment has been made to the new Chair of Architectural Design at Auckland University College, and preliminary arrangements have been made for the establishment of a School of Social Work at Victoria University -College. The general-purpose grants to University colleges were again increased in 1947 to provide for additional staffing, for the extension of refresher leave, and for increased maintenance costs and contingencies. The research grant of £lO,OOO per annum was •continued. The University has set up a Special Research Committee to administer the research fund. Important developments have taken place during the year in the field of adult •education. The Adult Education Act, 1947, authorizes the establishment of a new National Council of Adult Education with strong regional representation. It also gives greater scope and increased powers for the National Council, and provides for Regional •Councils. Poliomyelitis Epidemic As one of the measures taken to prevent the spread of the incipient outbreak of poliomyelitis, schools were closed early in December, 1947, and the reopening in 1948 was delayed on instructions from the public-health authorities. Prompt steps were taken to provide material for home instruction through the Correspondence School, -and arrangements were made with all schools for the use of this material from the

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