TECHNICAL COLLEGE YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 292, 10 December 1925, Page 9

TECHNICAL COLLEGE YEAR.

ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING. THE SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS. ' The annual prize-giving of the Seddon Memorial Technical College took place at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall this afternoon. Sir James Parr, Minister of Education, presented the prizes. Lady Parr was also present. It was stated in the director's report that the attendances during the year were a record for the school, and the accommodation had been insufficient to provide for all. On May 1, the numbers in attendance were: Science and accountancy -91 boj's and 19 girls; engineering, .123 boys; building construction, 127 boys; industrial, 66 boys; 'agriculture, 18 boys; commercial, 214 'girls; domestic, 9G girls. The total was 759, including 430 boys and 329 girls. There had since been a decrease of about :12 per cent in the roll on account of J pupils leaving school. In 1924 the decrease had been 13 per cent, and in 1923, 20 per cent. i "There is need," said Mr. Park, "for inducing pupils t.o complete any year for which they enrol, if the country is to get the full value of its expenditure on technical education." j The proportion of first-year students was 60.6 per cent; that of second-year 'students, 20 per cent; and third and fourth-year students, 10.4 per cent. ' In the evening and Saturday classes the enrolments in 1925 were: First-year .students, 534; second year, 259; third iyear, 308; fourth year, 133; technical [classes and teachers, 270; total, 1504. , The numbers of passes in the 1924 examinations were: Intermediate, 63; Public Service entrance, 24; matriculation, 41; City and Guilds (London), 79. In athletics no less than seven records were broken this year, and in relay j races, open to secondary schools, the College team was successful at the Amateur Athletic Association's recent meeting in winning the open relay race. Mr. Park expressed regret that this year there had been no school assemblies, owing to the space being absorbed for other purposes. He hoped that 192G would see the opening of the assembly hall, and the school looked forward to the increased opportunity it would bring. iHe expressed gratitude to the Minister for his interest in this project; and also appreciated the generosity of the late Mr. W. J. Binns and the late , Mr. Richard Hindley, whose bequests had made the assembly hall project possible. To-night a pupils' concert will be given in the Town Hall Concert Chamber.