16. The Local Authority is, however, at liberty to insist on any other conditions which it may deem necessary in order to secure the efficiency of the instruction aided out of the rates.

It is suggested (for example) that part of the local rate in aid of technical instruction should be devoted to payment, or part payment, of an inspector responsible to the Local Authority, who should make careful inquiries into the staff, equipment, and general efficiency of the technical schools aided in the District. Several Local Authorities might well combine for this purpose, so that the expense need not be great, especially if the services of a competent expert can be secured for part only of his time. 17. A condition as to suitability of fee ought to be attached to all grants to institutions.

18. Form of Rate-Aid.-The rate-aid given to the institution may be given in the following forms, among others :

(i.) An annual lump sum, with conditions of inspection, &c., attached. (ii.) A building grant, leaving the current expenses to be met by sub

scriptions, fees and imperial grants. In this case, probably, the interest on the loan raised for the purpose would be confined within the 1d. limit sanctioned by the Act.

(iii.) An annual capitation grant, with conditions attached. (iv.) An annual grant for the development of some special branch of

work which formerly could not be undertaken for want of funds. A class in some subject bearing directly on the needs of some staple local industry or industries might be maintained in this way.

The Science and Art Department has given an opinion that the rate may also be used to found scholarships, tenable at institutions within the District.*

It is to be remembered that the distinct purpose with which the Act was passed was to encourage higher and secondary technical instruction. Each locality will have to consider which method of utilising the rates will best meet the requirements and arouse the sympathy and liberality of the inhabitants of its District.

19. Elementary Schools.-The School Board can only apply for rate-aid for technical or manual instruction for scholars not working in the standards.

Under the existing law many School Boards, or managers of voluntary schools, already exercise the right of giving science and art instruction to scholars over the sixth standard in connection with South Kensington, and obtain a grant from the Department on their account.

* In reply to the West Riding County Council. At the same time they advise Local Authorities to obtain legal advice on the point. See now the Technical Instruction Act, 1891, Sect. 1, page 115.

They may also give science instruction as a specific subject to scholars over the fourth standard, and throughout the standards as a class subject.* Under the New Code (1890) they may provide manual instruction to scholars above the fourth standard, and earn a grant on it from South Kensington.

Under the Education (Code) Act, 1890, School Boards may provide instruction in higher branches of education in their evening schools. This opens the way for a considerable spread of technical instruction under the control of School Boards.

The cost of this instruction, and of any other extra subjects, may be defrayed out of the ordinary school fund.

Under the Technical Instruction Act the School Board may apply for a share of the rate for the purpose of supplying manual, scientific and technical instruction to its ex-7th standard scholars.

We would suggest the inexpediency of attempting specialised technical instruction to scholars so young as pupils of elementary schools.

The School Board would do well to appoint a Committee to consider the whole question of technical instruction. This Committee may cause a syllabus of "class" and "specific" instruction of a simple kind suited to local circumstances to be drawn up for the school. Any extra cost thus entailed will fall on the school rate, and will thus lie outside the ld. rate authorised under the new Act.

It may further consider how best to introduce—

(a) A continuous series of object lessons and extended "kindergarten" instruction in the lower standards.

(b) Simple manual training in the upper standards in connection with drawing. +

(c) Manual instruction for scholars out of the standards under the new Act.

The managers of a voluntary elementary school applying for aid under the Act are subject to the same conditions as the managers of any other institution. In their case, as in that of the School Board, no part of the rate granted may be used for the instruction of scholars working in the standards. 20. What may be taught under the Act?

Technical and manual instruction under the Act means (see Clause 8 of the Act):

(1) Instruction in the principles of science and art applicable to industry.

* See the Education Code (1890) or the Abstract, to be obtained from the Association, 14 Dean's Yard. There is a special Code for evening continuation schools now on the table of the House of Commons. It is expected to come into force in the Spring of 1893. See Wyatt's Continuation Schools for much useful information.

+ See the suggestions on manual instruction issued by the Science and Art Department (Circular 44).

(2) Instruction in the application of special branches of science and art to specific industries and employments (but not so as to be instruction in the practice of a trade).

(3) Any subject not included under the above heads which is contained in the Directory of the Science and Art Department for the time being.

(4) Any subject not included under the above heads but required by the circumstances of the District which may be sanctioned by the Science and Art Department on the representation of a Local Authority (ie, miscellaneous subjects, such as shorthand, modern languages, cookery, &c., which do not clearly fall under any of the first three heads).

(5) (Manual instruction): Instruction in use of tools, processes of agriculture, modelling in wood, clay, and other material.

Local Authorities wishing to give rate-aid to the teaching of subjects required by their District, but not included in the Science and Art Directory, are recommended to send a list of such subjects to the Science and Art Department. Otherwise they will get no share of the imperial grant (see Section 21) on account of these subjects.

21. Imperial grants for technical and manual instruction.

The Science and Art Department is now prepared to make grants for technological and manual instruction under certain conditions. The grants for Technical Instruction will be made on account of subjects which come within the definition (see Section 20) of technical instruction but are not included in the Science and Art Directory, and will be based on the amount contributed by the Local Authority out of the rates in aid of such subjects. These grants offer thus an additional motive to Local Authorities to adopt the Act.

Grants are also offered for manual instruction either in elementary schools or organised science schools.

THE LOCAL TAXATION (CUSTOMS AND EXCISE) ACT, 1890.

(53 and 54 Vict. c. 60.)

APPLICATION OF ENGLISH SHARE OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES.

Section 1. (1) Out of the English share of the local taxation (Customs and Excise) duties paid to the local taxation account on account of any financial year :

(a) The sum of three hundred thousand pounds shall be applied for such purposes of police superannuation in England as hereinafter mentioned :

(b) The residue shall, unless Parliament otherwise determines, be distributed between County and County Borough Funds, and carried to the Exchequer contribution accounts of those funds respectively, and applied under the Local Government Act, 1888, as if it were part of the English share of the local taxation probate duty, and shall be the subject of an adjustment between Counties and County Boroughs, according to Section 32 of the said Act, by the commissioners under that Act. [See Technical Instruction Act, 1891, page 115.]

(2) The Council of any such County or County Borough may contribute any sum received by such Council in respect of the residue under this Section, or any part of that sum, for the purposes of technical education within the meaning of the Technical Instruction Act, 1889, and may make that contribution over and above any sum that may be raised by rate under that Act.

(3) A County Council may make any such contribution by giving the amount of the contribution, or any part of that amount, to any Town Council or other Urban Sanitary Authority in their County for the purpose of the same being applied by such Council or Authority under the Technical Instruction Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vict. c 76), over and above any sum which can be raised under that Act by rate by such Council or Authority.

(4) The Council for any County to which the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vict. c. 40), applies may contribute any sum received by such Council under this Section, in respect of the said residue, or any part of that sum, towards intermediate and technical education under that Act, in addition to the amount which the Council can under that Act contribute for such education.

NOTE.-Committees should send in their claim to any part of the residue under this Act to the organising secretary or director of Technical Instruction for the County or County Borough where the Library is situated. It is suggested that financial aid be requested towards— (1) The purchase of technical books to be added to the Library. (This has been done in Liverpool, Bradford, Cheltenham, Bootle, Coventry, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Folkestone.)

(2) The provision of class-rooms or laboratories for teaching purposes in projected new buildings, or for their addition to existing buildings;

(3) The reservation of a students' reading-room.

(4) The publication and circulation of special lists of books on trade or

educational subjects.

Many County Councils have allocated a proportion of the funds at their disposal to the Councils of non-County Boroughs. Information on this subject will be gladly afforded by Mr. Fovargue.

TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION ACT, 1891.

54 VICT., CAP. 4.

An Act to amend the Law relating to Technical Instruction.

[26th March, 1891.]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Explanation of powers of Local Authority as to Technical Instruction.

52 and 53 Vict., c. 76.

1. (1) Subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the Technical Instruction Act, 1889, a Local Authority may-

(a) Make such provision in aid of the technical or manual instruction for the time being supplied in a school or institution outside its District as may, in the opinion of the Authority, be necessary for the requirements of the District in cases where similar provision cannot be so advantageously made by aiding a school or institution within its District; and

(b) Provide or assist in providing scholarships for or pay or assist in paying the fees of students ordinarily resident in the District of the Local Authority at schools or institutions within or outside that District.

(2) In distributing the provision made in aid of technical or manual instruction, the Local Authority may consider all the circumstances of the case, and shall not be bound to distribute the provision so made exclusively in proportion to the nature and amount of efficient technical or manual instruction supplied by those schools or institutions respectively.

Application of Balances. 53 and 54 Vict., c. 60.

2. Any moneys received by a County Council under sub-section (1) (b) of section one of the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890, and directed by resolution of the County Council to be appropriated or to be set aside for the purposes of technical or manual instruction, shall, although not expended or specifically contributed or allotted in whole or in part before the end of the financial year, remain applicable for such purposes, and shall not be applied in manner provided by sub-section (2) and the following sub-sections of section twenty-three of the Local Government Act, 1888, until the County Council s. all have made an order for such application.

Where a Council shall have referred to a Committee the question of appropriating to purposes of technical or manual instruction any sum consisting of the whole or any part of such moneys, this section, unless and