Ashburton’s New Manual Training Centre Opened

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 17

Ashburton’s New Manual Training Centre Opened

The problem of accommodating 800 primary school children a year at the Ashburton Technical College for instruction in manual training was ended this week when the Canterbury Education Board’s new £ll,OOO centre in Middle road was opened. It is expected that about 500 Form I and II children will pass through the centre for their training in woodwork and cooking each year. The remaining 300 children will continue their training at the college. The centre has been classed as the most modem in Canterbury. Its equipment is valued at about £2OOO. In the cooking room, there are four electric stoves, two gas stoves, a washing machine and other kitchen necessities.

Each girl wears a headband with her Christian name embroidered on it. This enables the instructor (Mrs M. P. Niven) to speak to the girls on friendly terms without having to memorise several hundred names. Woodwork Lessons

Benches for the boys' woodwork shop are due tomorrow. So far this week, their instructor <Mr T. J. Anderson) has given them lessons in theory, including instruction in the care of tools and equipment. When furnished, the shop will have 12 work benches, and will provide facilities for 24 boys. There is also a spacious store room and smaller room for polishing.

Commenting on the opening of the new centres, the principal of the technical college (Mr W. J. Jefferies) said that accommodation of the rapidly increasing numbers of children who received manual training had been a pro-

blem. He added that if the number continued to grow at the same rate m the next two years, additions to the centre would be required. “It is the intention of the department to provide another centre when one is warranted," he said yesterday. “About 500 pupils could then be accommodated at each centre." The site on which the centre is situated might eventually be* come the nucleus of an intermediate school for Ashburton, said Mr Jefferies.

Classes in woodwork and cookery would last two hours but some of the country schools may attend for half a day, he said. Country children will be carried in buses.

The area of the building is 2737 square feet. It is a timber building constructed on modem lines. Window space in all rooms Is extensive, allowing ample natural light. A large bicycle shed for children from the four borough schools has been built on the south-eastern part of the section.