1908. QUEENSLAND. THIRTY-SECOND REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. FOR THE YEAR 1907. PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BY COMMAND. AY AUTHORITY: GEORGE ARTHUR VAUGHAN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WILLIAM STREET, BRISBANE. C.A. 43-1908. 1908. THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IN QUEENSLAND, BEING THE REPORT FOR TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FREDERIC JOHN NAPIER, Baron Chelmsford, of Chelmsford, in the county of Essex, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor of the State of Queensland and its Dependencies, in the Commonwealth of Australia. MY LORD,—I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the Report of the Department of Public Instruction for the year 1907. GENERAL. 1. This Report, with its Appendices, deals with the educational work contents. carried on under the provisions of "The State Education Act of 1875," and amending Acts of 1897 and 1900; the "Grammar Schools Act 1860," and amending Act of 1900. It also contains particulars respecting State aid to the following:-Secondary education in the form of grants to Grammar schools; scholarships and bursaries to approved Secondary schools, and exhibitions to Universities; Orphanages; Technical Colleges, and Schools of Arts. SCHOOL HYGIENE. blight. 2. Much consideration has been given by the Department during the past Prevalence of two years to the prevalence of blight amongst children. In the Education Office Gazette for October, 1906, special instructions on the subject were issued to teachers, and the Board of Health, at the request of the Department, supplied particulars for the preparation of simple but efficacious lotions and ointment. These particulars were duly communicated to teachers. Posters in regard to blight were also prepared and distributed for general information in the affected areas. By way of experiment, a supply of the ointment and lotion was prepared in Brisbane and sent by the Department to several schools, and the teachers were required to report the results. The results are interesting and instructive. They show that in places where there are hospitals it is a mistake to send lotion and ointment for free distribution, because the children cease to attend the hospitals, parents grow careless in treating their children's eyes, and more harm than good is done. In places where there are no hospitals, or doctors, or chemists, a little good results; before the lotion and ointment were sent the eyes were often not treated at all; when material is available at least a little attention is given to the eyes. report. 3. Towards the end of 1907 the Hon. W. F. Taylor, M.D., D.P.H., was Dr Taylor's employed by the Government to visit the Western districts and report upon the prevalence of ophthalmia. A report containing the result of his inquiries and his various recommendations was submitted to Parliament on the 11th of March, 1908. The matter, as a whole, is one for Government rather than Departmental action. Dr. Taylor's recommendations were: 1. That acute contagious ophthalmia be declared a contagious disease, and that the notifies 2. That provision be made for the treatment of all cases of acute contagious ophthalmia on 3. That as many chronic cases be treated locally as are likely to be benefited by treatment. 4. That all cases certified to by the resident doctor as requiring removal to the coast for |