Before handing over the funds to the trustees, the charity com missioners made certain capital grants out of the corpus of the charities. They also made offers of annual endowments for the establishment of institutions in a number of districts generally on condition that an amount representing approximately the capitalized value of the endowment offered was subscribed for capital purposes. Local committees were set up to secure the foundation of institutes in the various parts of London. Valuable sites were given by private benefactors and subscriptions were received from city companies, charities and other voluntary sources towards the cost of building. Altogether, including grants made by the charity commissioners and the trustees of the London Parochial Charities, over isoo,000 was secured for capital ex penditure while from 1900 to the present time the trustees of the London Parochial Charities have contributed over ii,o00,000 towards the maintenance of the polytechnics.
The general aim of the polytechnic institutions may be stated briefly to be the promotion of industrial skill, general knowledge, health and well-being of young men and women belonging to the poorer classes by (I) instruction in the general rules and principles of the arts and sciences and the practical application of such rules and principles in any handicraft, trade or business ; (2) instruction in such other branches and subjects of art, science, language, literature, general knowledge, as may be approved by the governing body; (3) instruction and practice in gymnastics, drill, swimming and other bodily exercises; (4) facilities for the formation and meeting of clubs and societies; (5) provision of library, museum and reading rooms.
The London County Council was empowered under the Techni cal Instruction Act, 1889, to give grants-in-aid to the polytechnics, and since then an increasing percentage of their revenue has been derived from public moneys. The passing of the Education Act,
1902, as applied to London by the act of 1903, has tended to diminish the distinction between the polytechnics, which are "aided" or partly supported by the London County Council, and other technical institutes which are "maintained" or entirely supported by the London County Council. The Education (Con solidation) Act, 1921, empowers the London County Council, in common with other local education authorities, to promote social and physical well-being and to co-ordinate all forms of education within its area. The social and recreative activities, a charac teristic feature of the organization of the polytechnics, created by reason of the funds granted by the trustees of the London Paro chial Charities, are likely, therefore, to be developed in other institutions. The distinction between a polytechnic and a techni cal institute is slowly becoming managerial rather than educa tional. The greater part of the expenditure of polytechnics is now met by a grant from the London County Council, towards which the Board of Education contributes so%. Towards building and equipment the London County Council has, in the past, con tributed over i600,000, while its maintenance grants to these institutions amount to nearly £350,000 a year.
The table on next page shows the chief polytechnic institutions in London and the number of students and gross expenditure of each polytechnic.
The expenditure is met by students' fees to the extent of 19%, by grants from the London County Council and Board of Edu cation to the extent of 70%, and by income from other sources (including the City Parochial Foundation) to the extent of 11%.
Battersea, Chelsea, Northampton, Northern and Woolwich polytechnics, together with the City of London college and Sir