ASHBURTON TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7726, 20 February 1909, Page 1

ASHBURTON TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

ELECTION OF A SCHOOLS DELEGATE.

More than ordinary interest was taken last evening m the election of a delegate to represent the Borough and Hampstead Schools on the Ashburton Technical Classes Association. There were present nine representatives from the Hampstead School Committee and eight from the Borough School Committee. It was proposed and seconded that Mr Wm. Craighead be elected chairman, and as an amendment Mr Wm. Thompson was nominated. A vote of the meeting resulted m the appointment of Mr Craighead. The chairman briefly explained the object of the meeting, and stated that the committees were at present represented by Mr Schneider, headmaster of the Borough School. Mr G. W. Andrews moved, and it was seconded and carried, that m the event of two candidates being nominated and the' voting being equal, the final decision should bo arrived at by drawing lots. It was proposed and second sd that Mr John McLeod bo elected the delegate for the ensuing year. As an amendment Mr Schneider was proposed, and his nomination was seconded. Mr Ferriman thought it was a pity that the committees had not the power to elect two delegates. Technical education was a very important matter, and it was very necessaiy that the representatives on the Board of Governors should bo real live men. Both Mr McLeod and Mr Schneider, he knew, would make excellent delegates, and he thought that every endeavour should be made to get the defeated candidate elected m some other way. Mr Andrews and the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse spoke m a similar strain. Mr C Mathews thought that too little interest was taken m technical education m Ashburton, and he trusted that the time was not far distant when the people would awaken to their responsibilities and take that interest m the Classes such an important branch of education warranted. He thought with former speakers, that the committees should each have a representative on the Board of Governors, and who was more qualified than a headmaster to fill a seat? The motion and amendment were put to the meeting, and some misunderstanding occurred m regard to the! counting of votes. However, a recount 1 was made ,and Mr McLeod was elected by a majority of one vote. Mr Ferriman paid that as he was not re-offering himself as a candidate to represent the private subscribers to the Association, no doubt Mr Schneider's election to that position could be satisfactorily arranged; at least he hoped so. He thought that those present should take, just as much interest m the classes as they had shown m the election of a representative. As a suggestion, he thought each of those present should endeavotii; to induce at least two, pupils to attend' the classes. By doing this they would be assisting the teachers and all concerned, The Rev. Mr Bellhouse moved, which was seconded and carried —" That failing the election of Mr Schneider to Mr Ferriman's seat on the Board of Governors, a letter should be sent to the Board of Education strongly urging that gentleman's election as a member of the Classes." Mr Andrews thought "Mr Ferriman had done such excellent work on the Classes that his . services should, if possible, be retained. Several of those present spoke m high terms of praise of the work done m connection with the Classes. Mr Jas. Thompson said he did not altogether approve of the County Council being privileged to elect five members. Steps should be taken to induce the Board of Education to allow each of the committees represented that night to elect its own delegate. From what he had ascertained, the girls' _ classes m connection with the Association were being well attended, but no doubt the selfishness on the part of somp parents accounted for the limited number of pupils that attended the classes set apart for the hoys. Mr W. Thompson said that the Board of Education had already been written -to regarding the direct representation of the Hampstead School on the Classes, but, so far, no reply had been received. A vote of thanks to the chairman was carried, and the meeting adjourned.