AMALGAMATION OPPOSED.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20315, 14 August 1931, Page 9

AMALGAMATION OPPOSED.

ASHBURTON SCHOOLS. HIGH SCHOOL ATTITUDE CRITICISED. Holding that no good purpose could bo gained by a conference on amalgamation, the Technical School Board yesterday declined the invitation of the Director of Education (Mr T. B. Strong) to meet him in a private conference with the High School Board to discuss amalgamation of the High and Technical Schools. The Director, however, is to bo invited to meet the Technical School Board this evening, when he arrives in Ashburton from Dunedin. Messrs P. Jones and T. D. Burnett, M.P.'s, are to be asked to use their influence to oppose amalgamation of the schools. In reply to Mr J. Watson, tho chairman (Mr T. Hayes) said they had no communication from the High School Board in the matter. Mr Hayes said he did not think that any good would result from a conference at this stage. He moved: "That in view of the attitude taken up by the High School Board on tho question of amalgamation, this School Board feels that no good purpose would be gained by the proposed conference, and therefore prefers to deal with the Minister for Education direct.", Mr W. J. Sparrow seconded tlie motion. Mr E. Houston said they should ignore the High School Board unless that Board approached them. He was up against a conference. He would suggest that the Technical School should take over the High School. Mr J. Watson: As a matter of courtesy we should accept the iuvitation. Mr Houston said he had no objection to the conference if the Director was present. Mr G. W. Andrews: We don t want to take up a strong stand until we hear the Director. The High School Board should have met us long ago to talk over the matter. As long us wo are properly guarded, I am not opposed to the fercnce. No reason why Ave should amalgamate has yet been shown. The chairman: To my mind \\o would bo far better to stand clear of any conference and deal direct with the Minister. We will then get fair play, as he says that he is willing to give the matter serious consideration. A motion might be put to the conference and carried without due consideration. Mr Bramley said he did not thiuk that any motion on tho question of amalgamation would be put to the conference, "t can't quite undarstand tho rlign School Board. They want amalgamation, yet they won't take advantage ox technical education now," he said. Mr Houston: They are getting in the background while the Technical School is going ahead quickly. lam quite satisfied that there is no sentiment wanted. Mr Sparrow said he could not see any itnefit in a conference, yet it would be discourteous not to meet t' Director. The chairman: It would be an unwise action to take part in any conference. Judging by the results in other places, we would be better to deal direct with the Minister. I think we should stand clear of it altogether. Wo have been treated in a contemptuous way by tlie High School Board.

Mr Watson said that it might 'be wiser for them to ask that the confeteiico be open. Mr Hillier: It seems that the meeting is divided. "Wo want to be unanimous. We don't want to go to a meeting with a divided opinion. It might be better to withdraw this resolution and meet the Minister. , The chairman urged them not to withdraw the motion. Mr Andrews said the Director was only calling the conference because he had been by the High School Board. . The mo!',.. ? then earned, the chairman, Messrs jparrow, Hillier, ana Houston voting for it, and Messrs Andrews, Watson, and Bramley against. The chairman appealed to the Board to carry the motion unanimously, but no further action, was taken. Mr Watson': We don't want to be discourteous to the Director, yet we are saying in as many words that we don want to talk over the matter. The chairman: The High School Board ignored us in the and a motion direct to the Minister for Education, so why should we now humble ourselves even if the conference is witli the Director. To Meet Director. >ir Andrews moved that they ask the Director to meet the Technical School Board this evening. Mr Hillier: We have no objection to meeting the Director, but we object to a conference with the High School Board. Mr Bramley: That means you turn down the Director's invitation and ask him to meet us. The motion was carried. The Minister for Education (the Hon. H. Atmore) wrote that with regard tg the unification of control of secondary schools and amalgamation of such schools, the Act contemplated that the combining of the schools shall be one part of the whole operation, and if that part is done then the operation was to be completed by putting the combined schools under a single controlling body. The method of combining was left to be fixed by the Ordcr-in-Council in each case. Attitude Regretted. The chairman moved: 'That this Board regrets the attitude adopted by the High School Board on the question of amalgamation wherein so many misstatements were made regarding this and other Technical Schools. Such misstatements can result only in confirming the belief that the High School Board neither understands nor sympathises with technical education. This Board further regrets to note that the | High School Board has seen fit to approach the Minister for Education on j the question of amalgamation without at first having approached this Board. The chairman said that they all read the statements made at the last School Board meeting. They referred to the fact that a number of Technical School teachers -were not qualified to teach, and some were part-time teachers, There were no part-time teachers on the staff of the Ashburlon Technical School. Mr Watson seconded the motion, stating that they had a fully qualified staff. Mr Andrews said that the statements from the High School Board were misleading, and were discourteous* to the Technical School. Mr Bramley: I think they are jealous of the prestige we have. The motion was carried unanimously. Keport to be Drawn UPIt was decided that the gxecatrte draw up a report of the Board s attitude

on amalgamation, to be submitted to the Minister for Education. Mr Houston moved that thev write asking Messrs David Jones and J-. Burnett, M.P.'s, to use their to prevent the amalgamation of th. High and Technical Schools. He said that Mr Jones had been approached bj the High School Board, but the motion was in the interest of Mid-banterbur.v Mr Bramley seconded the motion, which was carried withou- discussion. The following resolution was aiso car. ried on the motion of Messrs Watson and Bramley without discussion: "That the published report of the last meeting of the High School Boara, containing mis-statements regarding Technical Schools, be forwarded to the Technical Education Association for its consideration,"