Jan. 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 35

that the elapse of a longer period than six months shall not be held to be a bar in cases where the Director of Education is satisfied that the pupil was unable sooner to attend a technical school or class: Provided further that such free place shall be tenable only subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

For the purposes of this clause a certificate of competency in the subjects of the Sixth Standard, with special merit in handwork or elementary science shall be deemed to be equivalent to a certificate of proficiency.

24. (a.) A junior free place held under paragraphs (a) or (b) of the previous clause is tenable if the conditions relating thereto are complied with for two continuous years from the 1st January preceding the actual date of admission as a free pupil.

(b.) A junior free place held under paragraph (c) of the previous clause is tenable if the conditions relating thereto are complied with for one year from the 1st January preceding the date of admission as a free pupil; but the period may be extended for a second year, and again for a third year, by the Director of Education on the recommendation of the school authorities, based on the school records and on the results of an examination in the subjects included in the pupil’s course.

25. Every pupil admitted to a junior free place shall receive in each year and at approved classes regular and appropriate instruction in—

(a.) English, or, as an alternative in the case of pupils qualified under paragraphs (a) or (b) of clause 23 hereof, commercial English, including in either case the study of one or more selected standard works; reading; composition; and handwriting.

(b.) Arithmetic, or elementary mathematics, or practical mathematics, or, as an alternative in the case of pupils qualified under (a) or (b), commercial arithmetic.

(c.) In the case of pupils qualified under (a) or (b) one or more of the subjects of technical instruction; in the case of pupils qualified under (c), one or more subjects bearing directly on a trade or industry, including agriculture and kindred subjects, or on domestic occupations, provided that pupils qualified under (c) shall not be admitted to classes for commercial subjects.

The pupil must receive the instruction referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this clause for not less than sixty hours a year, provided that not less than twenty hours a year must be given to any subject taken up.

Senior Free Places.

26. Subject to these regulations—

(a.) A pupil shall be qualified to hold a senior free place at such classes if he has passed the Matriculation Examination, or the Public Service Entrance Examination, or the Intermediate Examination, or has qualified for a pass in the examination for Senior National Scholarships or for any other scholarship that the Minister may approve for this purpose.

(b.) A senior free place may also be awarded by the Director of Education, on the recommendation of the Director of the technical school or classes attended, based on the school records and on the results of the examination held by the school at the end of the school year in the subjects included in the pupil’s course, to any pupil who has satisfactorily completed during the two years immediately preceding not less than 120 hours’ instruction.

27. A senior free place is tenable, if the conditions relating thereto are complied with, for three continuous years from the 1st January preceding the actual date of admission as a free pupil, but if special merit is shown the tenure of the free place may be extended for a fourth year on the recommendation of the Director of the technical school or classes. Every pupil admitted to a senior free place must attend in each year approved classes in two or more related subjects of technical instruction for not less than sixty hours a year, provided that not less than twenty hours a year must be given to any subject taken up. The instruction must be of a more advanced character than that given to junior free pupils.

General.

28. The provisions of clauses 11 to 21 inclusive of these regulations shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to the tenure of free places held under clauses 23 and 26 hereof.

C. A. JEFFERY,
Acting Clerk of the Executive Council.