TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 6

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

STAFF CHANGES.: : ROUNDING UP YOUNG PLUMBERS. • The Technical Education Board'met last, evening. Present:—Messrs. J. P. Luke (presiding), T. ,Ballinger,. W. Allan, and Captain M'Donald.. .--..- \-. . ~ , ■:, ■■ The balance-sheet submitted-showed an expenditure of £476 13s. 4d. in salaries, and £181 -18s. 9d. in general accounts, making a debit balanco of £420 Bs. 6cL, as against a credit balance .'of £266 3s. 4d. at .the sanio poriod last year! The directors explained that there had been considerable expendituio. on furnishing and equipment, which it. was anticipated would riot recur. Capitation and other amounts due to the Board would more than .cover the debit balance. . .... ;,.... '■ Captain M'Donald, in seconding the Chairman's motion for the'adoption'o'f. the report, said that as regards efficiency,.,he thought the school was not second to any institution of the kind in Australasia. Most of the credit for. this success belonged to tho directqr, Mr'::-La-Trobe. ,;' -; ;-,..•:, - - ... Tho Chairman said he was. sure, that aU the'members endorsed these.remarks'. Tho resignation, owing to pressure,of other, business; of Mr. A.-.E. Wells,, ass.istant'.plumb-ing■-.instructor, ■'■. was accepted with regret, audit was. decided .to. convey to. Mr. .Wells the Board's appreciation of his services. The. director was instructed.to make the necessarj arrangement's for filling the vacancy. Mr. La Trobe-was also asked to advertise, tot applications for the position •of .instructor oi, painting and decorating., -~'■■-, <•,.■.; The following cablegram was read, which had been recoived by the Premier.from.tho Jtligh Commissioner: —, "Referring to your letter of August 3, Professor Lothaby and I selected for appointment as'assistant art;. instructor, Wellington Technical School, Richardson, 28 years'of age." A later telegram having been received asking whether Mr. Richi'-dson's appointment bad .been approved, tho directors had consulted with the Chairman, and telegraphed announcing..the- npP °Tlie m action of the chairman and director, was approved.' .;'■■ - Reporting on tho recent plumbing examinations,, tho Director stated' that tile rcsul.s, so- far as tho Wellington candidates were ■concerned;-wore distinctly, disappointing. The chief causes-of'this wcro, first, a regulation that plumbers .over twenty-three years of aco might enter for,.'examination without having''taken the full course, at the school, and second, irregular attendance of candidates at the classes. The attendance of apprentices, wlioso fees wcro practically, paid bv their employers, was not sufficiently .re-, gular. ......... ■. .- ' Mr. Allan proposed that quarterly reports should be sent to employers on the attend-ance-and work of their ■ apprentices at tho school, and no man ■should-;.-receive a plumber's certificate who, could -[not show a ,; reasonable attendance at * the- theory- class. Mr. Ballingcr said that, tho .City Council was framing new by-laws;, which -would provide for first and second-class certificates for masters and workmen respectively. ■Mr.'AViii moved that the, Director municate with the master-plumbers, and .uncertain' iToTVniany apprentices'they. had. a-id how many were, attending.the school. 1.0 should then, bring, down'a .report bearing on.' the whole question of attendance,rand the system of quarterly reports'-;'to • cinplOj-'ri ■ should Tio introduced.. .-■' ".'": • Mr. Ballingcr seconded -this "'proposition,' which was carried.- . -""..'-. On the motion of Captain M'Pdnald, t!>> Director was instructed to. prepare for next meeting a complete report, on ■ tho tscho il.» prospects for next year," the present' icsyr,-. modation and buildings required, information.i as to possible sites for buildings, with spj.M.alv reference to any sites belonging, to tho Ci'j Council, and ' tho returns, for 'tho: prison!:.;, yoar.' .-,' ■■.'■■.;.;.