HOME-BUILDING COURSE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27368, 5 June 1954, Page 6

HOME-BUILDING COURSE

RECONSIDERATION BY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

NO OBLIGATION TO ISSUE CERTIFICATE

The Christchurch Technical College board of governors will discuss the “build your . own home” training scheme at a special meeting of the board next Friday. This was decided by the board last evening when further information on the scheme was received from the appointments and classes committee.

The committee’s report said that favourable replies hau been received from the Education Department on two issues raised by members at a recent board meeting. “Is the issue of a certificate by the board or by the college an indispensable feature of the scheme?” was the first question. The department’s reply was the certificate would be issued by the Housing Division of the Ministry of Works ana would not have to be endorsed by the board. It was intended mainly for the information of the State Advances Corporation. “May the course be lengthened beyond the 12 weeks, which is considered too short an instructional period?” was the second question put to the department. “The practical course can conveniently be made of 16 weeks’ duration,” was the answer. The department had no objection to its extension if circumstances permitted. Reconsideration of the board’s decision rejecting the scheme was urged in a letter from the Assistant Director of Education (Mr D. G. Ball). “I have received some reports on the operation of this scheme at various centres and this has served to remind me that members of your board still have some misgivings about it and are not very happy about putting it into operation in your school,” said Mr Ball’s letter. “I can well understand that they might feel the need to study carefully such a new type of venture and to examine thoroughly its imSlications before they make a final ecision.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this scheme is an honest attempt to cope with one of our greatest problems —that of housing our expanding population. The Housing Division or the Ministry of Works and our own deSartment have co-operated with the ovetfnment in preparing the working details of the scheme which now degends for its success on the wholeearted support of the technical schools.

“Unqualified Success” “I think you would be interested to know that in centres where the classes have already begun, they have met with unqualified success.” The principal (Mr D. W. Lyall) said he had been told by two officers of the Education Department that a private party willing to promote the classes had approached the department. The department would prefer to operate the scheme through the normal channels if possible. Mr G. Manning moved that consideration of the report should be deferred until a full meeting of the board, if necessary a special meeting, could be called. Mr R. Jones, Mr J. E. Jones, and Mr H. Thurlow Thompson (who were absent) had taken such an interest in the scheme that they should have a chance to discuss it.

Mr F. Dephoff said that the report should be discussed without further delay, and he moved as an amendment that the report be considered immediately. The main objection of Mr J. E. Jones and Mr R. Jones—the issue of a certificate by the college—had been removed, he said.

Mr Denhoff’s amendment was narrowly defeated, and the motion to defer discussion was carried.