ROLLS INCREASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 9

ROLLS INCREASE.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

SITUATION IN AUCKLAND. COMMENT BY PRINCIPALS. Although, tbcre lias been a steady stream of advertisements in the daily newsjWpers'irf recent "weeks'for boys and girls for a variety of occupations, it does not appear that these demands for juvenile labour, are having any marked effect on. roll numbers at secondary schools in the Auckland district. Most of the schools reopen on Tuesday of next week and the enrolments to date indicate that, in the majority of cases, there will be ;niorc pupils on the roll tlian last year. Indeed, reports by headmasters and headmistresses this morning tended to contradict the suggestion that the increase in the activities of manufacturers as the result oi the restriction of imports would attract boys and girls of secondary school age away from higher education. However, in the . case of 1 the Seddon Memorial Technical College it was revealed that the demand for certain types of pupils could not be met at the moment. Many Girls Returning. "Tho roll number,is very satisfactory indeed to date, as Ave have enrolled IGO pupils, and I anticipate we will go well over the 200 mark,*' commented Miss A. L. Loudon, headmistress of the E|*?oin Girls' Grammar School. "Our usual roll number is 220. and everything this year seems to be normal/' Miss Loudon said that she saw no falling-off in attendance at the school as an outcome of import restrictions and tho demand by manufacturers for girls. As a matter of fact, she had a very large number of girls returning—a larger number tfnan in most years. The position in that.respect was most satisfactory. Although St. Cuthbert's College does not resume until next Thursday, it was reported that the roll number already was a long -way above that of last year —just oil .100. • Tho principal of the Technical College, Mr.G. .T. Park/said the roll number had j mounted to 1710 as against 1570 last year, and this despite the fact that business men -were seeking pupils. "We cannot supply tlio needs of the public with respect to office assistants and boys for engineering," ho added, "but the new pupils coming on are apparently more numerous than ever." Record in Boarders." Tho influx of new pupils to Kings College is indicative 'of tho need for additional accommodation and the popularity of that institution. The headmaster. Mr. «T, X. Peart, said that he had quite expected a fall in the roll numl>er, but it had actually .increased, the boarders being a record, and numbering--175, and day boys totalling 00. Lnst year the figures were 105 and 55 respectively. He observed that .a large number of the boarders were drawn from the country," and the increase in their numbers -was probably a reflection of tho satisfactory season experienced by farmers. He had had only one case of a boy giving notice Of leaving school as i a result of the import restrictions.

The opening of the new St. Peter's School .in Mountain *Road is* having all effect oli the enrolments at Sacred. Heart College. The older college, however, will have "about 1 HO. boarders and 250 day boys, which; represents, a total decrease of about 30 or 40. It is^- believed that the difficulty 'being experienced'by farmers in securing Taliour is having its reflection on the position so fhr as it governs boarders, boys probably ibeing kept at home to assist on the farms. Enrolments at. the new school have been satisfactory, the total being ISO to date. Boys , will be attending the institution from as far away as Helenfiville and Henderson. Forms i and 2 boys who have previously been catered for at the convents* will attend this school, while, "'this year tile educational requirements of boys up tb form 4 will also be attended to. After this year the forms will bo extended as far as required.