CONSCRIPTION OF STUDENTS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 2

CONSCRIPTION OF STUDENTS

DISCUSSION BY COLLEGE BOARD

A letter had been received from the camp commandant at Burnham explaining the difficulties in the way of acceding to the principal’s request that students called up for military service might be allowed to continue their evening studies at the college, said the report of the appointments and classes .committee presented last evening at a meeting of the Christchurch Technical College board of managers. “The committee recommends that, in acknowledging the letter, the assistant e of the college in providing facilities for continued study be offered to the military authorities,” continued the report. “This matter should be taken up again more in the light of the effects it has on the boys,” said Mr R. Jones. The letter was rather a blunt statement that nothing could be done, ue felt.

The letter referred to in the committee’s report was one of the most reasonable he had ever known to come from a military commandant, said the chairman (Mr M. E. Lyons). He himself deplored that the training would interfere with these young men’s schooling, but there was not much that could be done in the can p.

“I cannot see much point in interfering now.” he added. “It would be flying in the face of the considered view of the country. One laments that it does interfere with the boys’ training. but it is just inevitable under the circumstances.” The boys would have to work on certain nignts at the camp, and even if transport could bo arranged for them to come into Christchurch on other nights, boys from other centres would not be able to

benefit by being transported to their schools. Mr Lyons said.

“This is a national matter,” said Mr J. E Jones. “The military authorities are not justified in conscripting a boy at night as well as during the day. It was claimed that there was a difficulty in transport. I think that could have been overcome.”

The principal of the college (Mr D. W. Lyall) said that the Education Department at. the camp was taking a keen interest in the boys and avoiding any serious loss to them.

It was decided that the situation as it' affected other technical colleges throughout New Zealand be investigated.’ and that an approach to the Minister of Education and the Ministerof Defence be considered.