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Though largely experimental, the course was highly successful. Developed by the Director of the Wellington Technical College, and supervised by the head of the commercial department, it gave training in commercial subjects, and also in English, education, and general teaching methods. All State post-primary schools in Wellington co-operated in providing opportunities for observation and practice in teaching. The course will be continued in 1949. Refresher Courses for Post-primary Teachers Refresher courses are now well established annual events. In January, 1949, the following courses of interest to post-primary teachers were held Woodwork . . .. \ •, * «. n Engineering . . .. / Avon dale College. Engineering .. .. King Edward Technical College. Part-time motor engineering Seddon Memorial Technical College. Part-time motor engineering King Edward Technical College. Teacher-Librarians .. / Wellington. Dunedm. Astronomy .. .. Carter Observatory, Wellington. In addition, the following courses (postponed from January, 1948, because of the poliomyelitis epidemic) were held in the North Island Arts and crafts .. .. Feilding. Geography .. .. .. New Plymouth. Commercial .. .. .. New Plymouth. As m the past, arrangements were in the hands of the Teachers' Refresher Course Committee. All the courses were well attended. Teachers showed great interest in the meetings and expressed their satisfaction at the benefits accruing from them. Early in 1948 a series of one-day refresher courses was arranged for engineering instructors at Auckland, Hamilton, Hawera, Masterton, Petone, Christchurch, and Dunedm. In the northern area particularly, and in Christchurch, the courses were a great success. At Dunedm, owing to the fact that the schools opened suddenly it was not possible to bring in all the instructors. Two refresher courses for part-time instructors in motor engineering were also held m January, 1949, one at Dunedin and the other at Auckland. These conferences were so successful that similar courses are being considered for other centres during 1949 As January is not a convenient time for the men concerned it is hoped that future couress may be held during the winter months, when work in the trade is slack. It will be clear from this account of several training schemes that progress has been made in recent years towards organizing the training of post-primary teachers ; what may still be done will no doubt be discussed by the Consultative Committee 'on the Training of Teachers, recently appointed to inquire into " the provision made for the recruitment, education, and training of teachers in New Zealand." Such a comprehensive survey will gather together valuable information concerning the training of teachers. At the same time the findings of the Committee and its general recommendations may be able to indicate how best to increase the supply, which at present falls far short of the demand for trained teachers. For some time to come increasing rolls will tend to increase our difficulties. The needs for woodwork and metalwork have probably been anticipated with success, but in all branches of science and in engineering both an insufficiency of graduates and the demands by other Government Departments and by industry make the shortage acute. In the next decade a great increase in the numbers of teachers will be necessary if that very desirable objective of a complete and fully qualified staff for every school is to be achieved.

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