TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 110, 3 February 1931, Page 10

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Board of Governors Meets BUILDING EXTENSIONS A meeting of the Wellington Technical School Board of Governors was held last night, Mr. W. H. Bennett presiding. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. J. Hannah and Mr. M. F. Luckie. Following .correspondence between the board and the Director of Education in connection with an application for sub-

sidies on voluntary contributions, a letter was received to the effect that the

Estimates that had been passed by Parliament were for the 1930-31 financial year. In any event, the Minister of Finance had definitely stated that on account of the adverse financial situation, no further subsidies could be paid this financial year. The resignation of Mr. L. R. Partridge, representing the unions of employers, who is departing for the Old Country, was received with regret. The chairman referred to the long association of Mr. Partridge with the board and to the valuable services he had so , willingly given. His remarks were endorsed by several members. Invitation to Governor-General. It was decided to send invitations to his Excellency the Governor-General and the Minister of Education to be present at the opening of the new school, the date of which was to be left in the hands of the chairman. The director, Mr. J. H. Howell, stated in his report that the contractor was able to give them the rooms on the west wing other than those in the art school including the staff common room, the two drawing offices for engineering and building, the two lecture rooms and the mechanics’ laboratory, and expected to be able to hand over the art school to them within a fortnight. He proposed accordingly to transfer all commercial classes to the new college at the opening of school and to confine the work at the old buildings to the art department only,' and so to arrange the programme of work that no transfer of classes between the two buildings was required. > ■ Now Art Lecturer. Il was with regret, the director said, that he had to report the resignation of Mr. Roland Hipkins, who had joined the art staff in June last. Mr. Hipkins had been appointed lecturer in art at the Training College and had asked to be relieved of his duties at the end of February. They had been fortunate in obtaining as an applicant for the position Mr. F. V. Ellis, A.R.C.A.. who, after fulfilling his engagement with the School of Art in Dunedin, had taken service as designing artist with the Railway Studios in Wellington. Mr. Ellis had presented letters of strong commendation from wellknown artists, and his appointment, Mr. Howell considered, would considerably •strengthen the staff. The report was adopted. Mr. Ellis was appointed to; succeed • Mr. Hipkins, to whom it was decided to send a letter expressing the board’s appreciation of his services and wishing him every success in his new position. The art advisory committee reported inter alia that considering the very important part which the late Mr. A. D. Riley had taken in laying the foundations for art training in this city and in securing the land by the sale of which the present building had been rendered possible, they suggested that a memorial to take the form of a plate be designed by the architect and placed in the new art school. .

The report, together with the reports of the electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, commercial, building trades, and motor engineering advisory committees. was adopted.