Dec. 15.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3677

(3) A studentship may also be terminated at any time if it shall appear to the Board and the Minister that the holder does not possess sufficient aptitude for the teaching profession to warrant further expenditure in training, or is considered on the report of a School Medical Officer to be physically unfit to continue his course of training.

X. LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

The regulations relating to leave of absence made by Order in Council of the 12th December, 1924, and amended by Orders in Council dated 28th October, 1925, 22nd March, 1926, and 13th April, 1927, are hereby further amended by adding to clause 4 the following words :—

“ (9) For the purpose of this clause ‘service’ shall mean employment in New Zealand as a teacher, instructor, student-teacher, or probationer, under the Education Department, an Education Board, or the governing body of a secondary school, technical school, or University college : Provided that (a) any period spent in a training college shall count as service ; (b) if there has been a break in employment for any period exceeding twelve months, any period of service or of sick leave prior to such break shall not be included ; (c) service as a teacher in Fiji, Cook Islands, and Western Samoa shall be regarded as service under this clause, but sick-leave taken during a period of employment as a teacher in such islands shall not be reckoned as part of the aggregate sick-leave to which the teacher is entitled under subclause (1) hereof.”

XI. FREE PLACES.

The Regulations relating to Free Places made by Order in Council dated 19th December, 1922, and amended by Orders in Council dated 9th July, 1923, 10th September, 1923, 1st September, 1924, 1st November, 1926, and 22nd August, 1927, are hereby amended as follows :—

1. By deleting subclause (c) of clause 3 and substituting therefor the words :—

“ (c) He is not over fifteen years of age on the 31st day of December of the year in which he has obtained a certificate of proficiency as defined by regulations under the Act or an equivalent or higher qualification :

Provided that a pupil over fifteen years of age on the date named herein may be admitted to a free place if he is recommended therefor by a Senior Inspector of Schools, and takes a course of instruction approved by the Director of Education.”

2. By adding to clause 4 the following subclause :—

“ (iv) Without the approval of the Director no pupil shall be admitted to a junior free place after he has reached the age of sixteen years.”

3. (1) By deleting from subclause (1) of clause 5 all the words after “ admission as a free pupil,” and substituting therefor the words “ but in the case of a holder who was under thirteen years of age on the 31st December of the year in which he obtained his certificate of proficiency or equivalent qualification, the tenure of the free place may, on the recommendation of the Principal of the school be extended to a third year.”

(2) By deleting from subclause (3) of clause 5 the words “ 1st December preceding such date of admission,” and substituting therefor the words “ 31st December of the year in which he obtained a Junior High School Certificate.”

XII. LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR.

The regulation relating to the minimum number of half-days for which schools shall be open in each year made by Order in Council dated 7th November, 1923, is hereby amended by deleting the words “ three hundred and eighty-five half-days ” and substituting therefor the words “ three hundred and eighty half-days.”

XIII. GRANTS IN AID OF FREE KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS.

1. Out of funds appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, grants may be paid, in accordance with the following conditions, to associations formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining free kindergarten schools :—

(1) The business of the association shall not be conducted for private profit.

(2) Before a kindergarten school is recognized for purposes of grants in aid thereof, the association must satisfy the Minister that the school is necessary in the locality in which it is situated, that the building and equipment are suitable, and that the teaching staff is adequate and the instruction efficient.