TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 249, 19 October 1921, Page 12

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

" UNDER GREAT HANDICAP."' "EVERYTHING UNFINISHED." Returning thanks on his re-election as chairman at tlie meeting of the new Board of Governors of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, last night, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth said he was glad to see around him so many members who had been for years associated with him in the work of the institution. When they thought what it meant to industrial life, the sending through the college of thousands of young people, it would be seen that the effect of the institution was very far-reaching. Unfortunately, continued Mr. Holdsworth, they bad for many years been working under a great handicap, always being just short of building space and equipment. The building had been intended to carry another storey, but owing to the scarcity of money at the time that other storey had been left oIT, with the result that the roof had caused a great deal of trouble. It leaked like a sieve and led to great inconvenience. "I am not wishing to make you nervous, ladies and gentlemen,'' said the chairman, "but to overcome this difficulty 100 tons of asphalt was placed on top to make the roof waterproof. That even was not a success, for the water still comes through. That is serious, as it is apt to corrode the steel in the building.'' The assembly hall, said Mr. Holdsworth, had to be given up to make space for the students, and such a hall was a very necessary social adjunct for such an institution. As the work of the -institution grew, it had to apply to the. Government for workshops. Four storeys were asked for, but the liovcrnment decided to erect a three-storey building, and to put in foundations to carry a fourth. That fourth storey was badly wanted. Then, £200,0 was spent on a fine swimming pool, which was useless because unfinished. "Everything about this institution appears to be unfinished," concluded the chairman. "It will be for this board to devise ways and means to try and complete some of these things. The sum of fiiOOO. subsidised by the Government, will complete tlica workshops and the baths. I hope we will all work in harmony, with the sole aim of benefiting the institution placed in our trust." (Applause.) The following committees were elected: Library: Mrs. Rollett, Messrs. Crooks, Manson, and King. Sports: Mrs. Ferner: Miss Melville, Messrs. Brinsden and Speight. Building: Messrs. Clarke. Bloodworth, Dawes, and Allum. Finance: Messrs. Murray, Dearsley, Woodall and Hohisworth. Mr. T. Bloodworth was elected deputychairman.