Chinese.

In the following table will be found the average rates of

wages paid to the various employees in this class :

EDUCATION.

IT

T would have been strange if communities so prosperous as the Australasian States had neglected to provide for the education of the children. This duty, so vitally affecting the welfare of the people, has been recognised as one of the most important which the State could be called upon to discharge. In every province of the group, ample provision has been made for public instruction-such provision, indeed, in some cases, extending far beyond what has been done in most of the countries of the old world. In addition to a system of primary educa tion, in all the states there are grammar and high schools, by means of which those who have the desire may qualify for the higher studies of the University. So bountiful is the provision made by the state that in most cases the cost of education is merely nominal, and the poverty of the parents ceases to be an excuse for the ignorance of the children. It is true that in the very early days of colonisation but little attention was paid to education; but so soon as the sharp struggle for bare existence was over, attempts were made to provide means of instruction for the rising generation, and the foundations were laid of an educational system that is in the highest degree creditable to these young communities. The religious bodies were naturally the first to build schools and provide teachers; but there was always a large proportion of persons who objected to denominationalism, principally those who belonged to denominations which were not subsidised by the state; hence there arose a national or non-sectarian system, which has in the course of time almost monopolised the educational field.

In all the Australasian provinces the state system of education is secular. Compulsory clauses find a place in the Acts of the various states; but the enforcement of these is not everywhere equally strict. In Victoria, for example, compulsory attendance at school has been rigorously insisted upon, while in Queensland the principle of compulsion has been allowed to remain almost in abeyance, and in the other states it has been enforced with varying degrees of strictIn Victoria, Queensland, New Zealand, Western Australia, and South Australia the primary education provided by the State is entirely free of charge to the parents; in New South Wales and Tasmania small fees are charged, but these are not enforced where the parents can reasonably plead poverty.

ness.

The statutory school-age in each state is as follows:

Exemption certificates are granted to pupils below the maximum school age, provided they can pass an examination of a prescribed standard.

In New South Wales, for many years, a dual system of education was in existence. The four State-aided denominations-the Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan bodies-had schools supported by annual votes from Parliament, administered under the control of the head of each denomination for the time being. There were also National schools, likewise supported by the State, but under the control of a Board appointed by the Government. This plan was found to be costly and wasteful in the extreme, for in many country towns there were in existence several small and inefficient competing schools where the total number of children was not more than sufficient for one wellconducted establishment. So strongly was this evil felt that changes in the law were made from time to time, until at length the denominational system was abolished altogether, and one general and comprehensive plan of public instruction adopted in its place. This reform was not accomplished without much agitation, extending over a considerable period. A league was formed with the object of securing the establishment of secular, compulsory, and free education, and in 1880, under the auspices of Sir Henry Parkes, the measure establishing the present system became law. Education in the public schools is now non-sectarian, though facilities are afforded to clergymen to give religious instruction within specified school-hours to children whose parents belong to their denomination and desire that this instruction shall be given. It is compulsory, and free to all who cannot afford to pay, while a merely nominal fee is charged to those who are in a position to contribute towards the cost of the teaching of their children. For secondary education there are a number of superior and high schools entirely supported by the state, besides numerous colleges, grammar schools, and denominational schools which obtain no assistance from the Government, excepting the Sydney Grammar School, which receives a statutory endowment of £1,500. Scholarships and bursaries have been founded in connection with many of these schools. The University of Sydney, which is liberally endowed by private individuals as well as by the state, grants degrees which rank with those of Oxford and Cambridge. Educational affairs in the state are under the direction of a Minister for Public Instruction. In 1902 two Commissioners were appointed by the Government to

visit Europe and America and report upon the best educational methods pursued in those countries. Special attention was devoted by this Commission to the question of technical education.

In Victoria, under an Act passed in 1872, a system of free, compulsory, and secular primary education is in force, under a Minister of Public Instruction, who is responsible to Parliament. The compulsory clause is very strictly enforced, especially in the large towns, and education is entirely free as regards the ordinary subjects of primary instruction, while the teachers are allowed to impart instruction in additional subjects, for which a small fee is payable. The teaching of religion is strictly forbidden during school-hours, and at no time must a state teacher give religious instruction. At the close of 1901 an important Amending Bill was passed. The main provisions of this measure were designed to strengthen the compulsory clauses of the Act, and to raise the age at which children can be excused from attendance at school to 14 years. No certificates of exemption can be granted to a child below 12 years of age. A Director of Education has been appointed who will, subject, of course, to the Minister, administer all laws relating to education. Secondary education is almost entirely in the hands of private or denominational establishments. The higher education is supplied by the University, with its affiliated colleges.

The Education Department in Queensland is administered by the Secretary for Public Instruction. The Act now in force was passed in 1875, and is of a tolerably liberal character, primary education being secular and free. An Amendment Act came into operation in 1898, extending the range of subjects taught in State schools and reducing the number taught in the Provisional schools. In July, 1900, seven attendance officers were appointed, and steps taken to put in operation the provisions of the Act of 1875 regarding regular attendance at school. These officers did excellent service during the year, but, with a view to economy, they were retired in 1902, and their duties relegated to the police. The public schools are divided into two classes, termed State and Provisional schools. A State school must have an average daily attendance of not less than thirty children, and the local district must contribute one fifth of the cost of establishing, maintaining, repairing, and making additions to the building. In 1899, Provisional schools which had previously received a subsidy not exceeding £50 for any single school, and not more than half the cost of new buildings and furniture, were placed on the same footing with regard to Government grants as the State schools. Secondary education is provided by grammar schools, which are liberally assisted by the State. The State has no University of its own, but sends a fair number of students to the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne. The system of extension lectures in connection with the University of Sydney has been extended to Queensland; and the Government has given consideration to the question of the establishment of a University in Brisbane.

The South Australian system of primary education, which was introduced in its present form in 1878, is very similar to the systems already described. Public instruction in the state is presided over by a responsible Minister, with an Inspector-General and other officials. It is compulsory, secular, and free. Until the end of 1891 a small weekly fee was payable by all parents able to do so; but at the beginning of 1892 primary instruction was made free until the scholar reached the age of 13 years or had been educated to the compulsory standard, and in 1898 the remaining fees were abolished by the Minister for Education. Children who have attained a certain standard of education are exempt from compulsory attendance. Religious instruction is not allowed except out of ordinary school-hours. There are two secondary schools in connection with the Department-the Advanced School for Girls at Adelaide, where pupils are prepared for the University Public Examinations, and the Agricultural School, where boys are prepared for entrance to the School of Mines and Agricultural College. In addition there are numerous high-class private and denominational establishments; and the University of Adelaide, though small, is efficient.

Under the Elementary Education Act of 1871, primary education in Western Australia is imparted in Government schools, which are entirely supported by the state. An Amendment Act passed in 1893 placed educational affairs in the state under the control of a responsible Minister, and afforded facilities for special religious teaching, half-an-hour per day being allotted to clergymen for the instruction of children of the same denomination. Another Amendment Act which came into force in 1894 abolished payment by results, and gave powers for the enforcement of compulsory attendance. Until 1895, private schools were also assisted from the public purse, on condition of submitting to Government inspection in secular subjects; but towards the end of that year an Act was passed abolishing the system of annual grants to denominational schools, and providing that during the year 1896 the state should hand over, as compensation for the abolition of these subsidies, the sum of £15,000, to be divided between the schools in like proportions to those which governed the distribution of the annual vote in 1895. Under the regulations of 1895, children were entitled to free education on account of inability to pay the fees, of living more than 1 mile from school, of having made 400 half-day attendances in the previous year, or of other reasons approved by the Minister, but the Education Act which came into operation in 1899 gave free education to all children of compulsory school age. There is a high school at Perth, which is subsidised by the state; and further encouragement is given to secondary instruction by the institution of scholarships which are open to com petition.

In Tasmania the Treasurer holds the portfolio of Education, and has especial charge of matters relating to primary instruction. The permanent head of the department is styled Director of Education. There are public schools in every country town throughout the state,