TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 3

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

ITS OVERCROWDED STATE. REMARKS. BY THE DIRECTOR, The Wellington Technical Education Hoard met last night. There were present: Messrs. D. Hobcrtson (chairman), G. Frost, J. E. D'itzgcrald, W. Allan, M. V. Luckio, and W. H. Field. The financial statement presented showed that the receipts for tho month up till March 23 were £352, as compared with £80-i last year, and tho expenditure £807, as against £810. This left a debit balance of £1036, as against a credit balance last year of £230. It was pointed out, however, that two big sums duo from tho Government had not come to hand, £731 for capitation and £211 grant for material, and that these, when paid, would almost eliminate the debit balance.

When the business of the election of chairman came on, Mr. D. Robertson; the retiring chairman, said he would like to see some younger member elected to tho office he had held. A younger man with energy was required, because a now school was needed this year, and ho heped some suitable man would be appointed.

Sir. G. Frost moved, and Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald seconded, a; proposition that Mr. be re-elected. Both complimented Mr. Robertson on the work lie had done in his strenuous advocacy oi the claims of tho board, especially in regard to., the need for new school buildings. Mr. W. Allan, supporting tlie motion, said ho hoped Mr. Robertson would take office for another year, which would probably see the fulfilment of his labours of the past two years. It seemed likely • now that a new school would be erected, and he thought Mr. Robertson ought to be chairman when that scheme for which ho had worked so hard was consummated. Mr. Robertson accepted nomination, and was elected. Mr. T. R. Wallace, who is secretary of the Marine Engineers' Institute, but who wrote in his private capacity, offered a prize of a valuable, work in engineering to the student making thfc most progress in mechanical drawing during a period of six or twelve months. The prize was accepted with thanks.

Director Advocates Getter Buildings. Following are extracts from the annual report furnished by the Director (Mr. W. S. La Trobe): — „ The work of the year 1913 has brought into further prominence the great difficulties attending the development of technical instruction in Wellington. The urgent need of improved equipment, the impossibility of housing classes, in tho antiquated and ill-designed buildings occupied by the college, and tho crying necessity for playing grounds and rooms devoted to mental and physical recreations, have all been felt in an accentuated degree during the year. The ' accommodation provided is now sadly overtaxed. It is long since it was iinpossiblo -to provide separate classrooms, work-rooms, and laboratories for special classes and now the provision of any sort of space for class and laboratory work has bccome very difficult, so that, in several cases,' it was not only impossible to conduct the classes under fair conditions, but exceedingly hard to find any 'room at all for many promising students well qualified to benefit by a. course at the college. . Tlie Technical Education Board has made strenuous efforts during the year, to obtain a suitable central site, sufficient . for-- buildings .largo enough- to' :provide for present necessities. Through the generous co-oueration of tho City Council and tho Education Board an excellent site, capable of being easily added fo as occasion arises, has been promised to tho board. As soon as the consent of tho Education Department, lias been given, the Technical Board will be in a position to closo with tho offers of the City Council and Education Board, and Id should not be long before the hopes of tho board are realised, and a well-equipped technical college, worthy of tho city is erected.

Work of the School. The numbers attending the various classas of the college show a small increase over those lor tlie previous year notwithstanding that many intending students were refusing for lack of room. Tho total number of students who received instruction has, however, substantially increased, owing to tho spread o7 oxtra mural.worlc done by the college? As in previous years tho number of class entries in the associated classes shows a respectable increase, mainly due to a larger proportion of the students taking grouped courses.' The increase in total class entries is about 9 per cent., whereas tlio increase in students is less than 1J per cent., so far as associated classes aro concerned. There was also an increase of 5 per cent, in the numbers attending the day Technical School. As regards regularity of attendance,, the record for the day Technical School is very satisfactory, while in the associated classes the majority of tho students made good attendances, except during the fourth quarter, of the year, when the attendance was badly affected by industrial disturbances in the city. The total of class entries, viz., 2387, is a record, for tho associated classes 'of ■ tho college. Following were the average class entries in associated classes for the year, the figures for 1912 being shown in parentheses:—Art and art crafts (282), 269; bnilding ednstruation (16), -26; painting and decorating (7), 4; carpen- | try and joinery (42), 48 plumbing (106),t 91; engineering (182), .235; science 325; domestic.economy (80), 109; English, Latin, and arithmetic, etc. (499), 655; commerce (420), 455; veterinary science (8); wool-classing (12); Amokura classes (251), 170. Totals —' (2151), 2387.

The chairman, moving the adoption of the report, said the report was a satisfactory one, showing as it did. that tho progress of tho school was steady and rapid. , Especially he would' drawattention to tlio parts of it referring to tho need for better accommodation and up-to-dato appliances. Adopted by the Board. Mr. W. A. Field, referring to the prospcct of a new school site, said tho Education Department were at present negotiating with the Education Board about a site, and that the Education Board had set up a committee to deal with the matter. Probably tlie board would make some definite pronouncement at its next meeting. The report was adopted.