EQUIPMENT FOR NEW SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21726, 7 March 1936, Page 18

EQUIPMENT FOR NEW SCHOOL

beply to technical COLLEGE DISAPPOINTMENT FELT MINISTER to be APPROACHED Disappointment was expressed, by the Technical College Board oi Governors last evening at a reply received from* the Acting-Director Qf Education, Mr W. S.‘ La Trobe, to a request for an increase In the grant for equipment at the new school at Papanui, The chairman. Mr T. W. West, said that the school could not be opened with the present amount of equipment. It was decided to send a further request to the Minister for > Education (the Hon. Peter Fraser).

The original grant to the school was £34,24?, though £60,744 14s 7d had been asked for. and the principal of the college. Dr. P. E- Hansen, recently went to- Wellington to interview the acting-director and ask for an increase of £1596 J3s 6d.

Mr. La Trobe said in his letter that the inspectors of technical schools had carefully considered the lists left by the principal with the items marked which the department ‘ was asked to reconsider. They were, however, unable to make any recommendation which would not involve addition to the grant already approved, as they considered that the items included in the grant were more important than those not included. They were prepared, however, to make recommendations lor one-or two. small items, including a circular saw: a motor, to cost some £25 to £3O. They were also prepared to reconsider making recommendations for a drilling and shaping machine and other items when the attendance of the students justified such additions.

Allowance for incidentals

it was also stated that it had been against the practice of the department for the last 30 years to give grants for typewriters from the , public works fund.. The life of a typewriter was five or si* years. The department was satisfied that until recently the allow-ance-for Incidentals was sufficient to cover the cost of all material and semipermanent apparatus, required. The adequacy of the allowance for incidentals would no doubt be considered from* time to time as financial conditions ■ allowed. It had formerly been the usual practice to provide office furniture ana fittings, apparatus and material for earetakina and keeping the grounds in order from the allowance for incidental expenses. The letter concluded that, as the Papanul School was, in. effect, a side school" to' the main Institution, it could hardly be. regarded as being in the same position as a school starting with* out the ordinary balance which a going institution had lor meeting the expenses incidental to a comparatively email extension of its work,

“We are Very disappointed with this reply after the principal’s visit to Wellington," Said Mr west, “Mr La Trobe does not seem to have been con-, vinced. Perhaps I should not say that, for reading between the lines it seems to be a matter of £ s d with the Department. The special sub-committee has considered this matter and has advised going straight- to the -Minister for Education. We certainly Cannot open the school with the present amount of equipment- A letter to the Minister has been drawn up. and if it makes no impression the board must take further action,” Letter to Minister The letter to the Minister stated that the equiument which had been. disallowed by the Education Department was regarded by the staff as essential. The general impression gained by the board was that the amount that had been asked for was not regarded as unreasonable, but that there were insufficient funds on hand to'permit the aporoval of the grant The position was that 148 pupils had indicated their wish to attend the Papanui School, and were, attending the old school in the meantime. Of these 105 were new pupils and 41 were in their second year, No typewriters were allowed for the use Of the 37 commercial pupils, and no commercial course could be considered complete without instruction in typing. Sixteen second-year boys wished to take, engineering' at the new school, but without more advanced equipment for applied mechanics and fitting and turning, it was ■ useless to send them third, . . It had to be definitely stated that 53 of the 146 students could not obtain a satisfactory course at the new school, but the removal of as many as possible from the main college was made necessary by pressure on accommodation. The ■ evening ■ V classes were also overtaxed for accommodation, and it would be a relief to have some of the pupiii transferred, The same equipment, would be needed for these, ’ ■ The board could hot- agree with the suggestion that equipment should be provided, out of the grant for incidentals, The neW'school was a large building starting with a roll number of possibly greater than that of some high schools and technical schools. The allowance been so reduced during the last five years that the board was not able to buy enough equipment for the present school, let alone that for the new school, which would draw on a new district. With a roll of 146 the allowance would be about' £3BO a year, and this would be necessary to pay for the caretaker; office assistance, and material for class use. ~...

Thfe latter was approved, and it was decided that if ah unfavourable reply was received a special meeting of the board should be called as soon as possible; -