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All schools are based on the plan of providing an apprenticeship for young mechanics which will provide them with three years' carefully graduated instruction in their trade, without that waste of time and effort which seems to characterise ap- prenticeship in the East. Also, by removing the menial work which is often the sole occupation of an apprentice during his first year, it is possible to attract a much better. type of boy to the mechanical occupations.

Throughout Malaya it is fully realised that, to make a good mechanic, a sound general education is essential; and while different states follow somewhat varying poli- cies in the matter of selecting students, the policy of insisting on good preliminary education, good physique and personality is common to all.

It is also realised that there is no use starting a boy on a Trade School apprentice- ship before his physique is such as would enable him to enter an apprenticeship in industry; for this reason the average age of entrants works out at about sixteen.

In general, the courses provided are organised around the automobile repair trade. This is partly due to the fact that this trade lends itself very specially to Trade School instruction and partly to the fact that this industry is unlikely to suffer further depression to any great extent. The variety of work introduced in automobile repair is very great and serves to prevent undue specialisation during apprenticeship.

All schools are well equipped with machine tools, especially those in the Straits Settlements where the depression has been less severely felt. At the same time great importance is laid on the use of the engineers main hand tools-hammer, chisel and file and a very high standard of proficiency in the use of these tools is required before the student does much work on the machines. Every student does a certain amount of blacksmiths work, brazing, and light sheet metal work during his first two years. The final year is spent on any work of commercial value which may be avail- able and suitable. The overhaul of cars belonging to the Public is one source of such work.

An important safeguard against exploitation of the schools lies in the right of the Principal to reject all work of an unsuitable nature.

The policy of charging for such work varies in the different schools, but is based on cost of spare parts plus a labour charge. At Kuala Lumpur the labour charge is 20 cents per hour.

By this means a revenue of several hundred dollars accrues to the Treasury per

annum.

The courses of instruction, in addition to imparting the manual skill required by an engineering trade, make every endeavour to familiarise the student with industrial practice. During his course he has a number of weeks on the following duties:

(I) Oil Engine Maintenance, Dismantling, Cleaning, and Repair, Reassem-

bling. (except at Penang).

or (I) Petrol engine Test Bed tuning and testing. (Penang only).

(II) Shop Cleaning there are no coolies.

(III) Oiling of Shafting, Maintenance of Belting.

(IV) Repair of Workshop Machines.

(V) Modern Store Keeping.

(VI) Costing of Work Done.

(VII) Erection of new machinery as received.