TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 24, 28 March 1939, Page 8

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ELLESMERE ASSOCIATION'S

ANNUAL MEETING

VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR

RECORDED

An indication that a service of considerable value to the community is being provided through the agency of the Ellesmere Technical Association may be gathered from the fact that last year 130 students attended the classes in~ various subjects held by the association in different parts of the Ellesmere county. The year's activities were reviewed in the report presented to the annual meeting of the association, held at Leeston last night, by the director, Mr W. H. Cartwright. Those present at the meeting were Messrs W. Johnston (Ellesmere A. and P. Association, chairman), R. G. Bishop (Ellesmere Farmers' Union), T. Moorhouse, J. H. McMillan (Ellesmere County Council), A. McPherson, A. Love (Southbridge School), W. Restall (Dunsandel School), F. A. Wagner (Brookside), J. Lambie (Lakeside), D. J. Ridden, G. Bray (Leeston), J. H. Jones (Leeston Town Board), T. Mdridge, T. Tweedy (Dunsandel Young Farmers' Club), Mesdames G. B. Couch, R. F. Filkington (Southbridge Women's Institute), A. E. Brown (Lakeside Institute), Misses A. Parkin (Leeston Institute), M. Baxter (Brookside Institute), J. Mercer and S. Martin (Leeston Night Circle), and the director, Mr Cartwright. The Year's Work The report stated that the year had been one of the most successful experienced by the association, classes having been held at Lakeside (dressmaking), Brookside (first aid), Leeston (woodwork and health and physical culture), Dunsandel (farm engineering and first aid), Irwell (farm engineering), Southbridge (arts and crafts). The total roll of students was 130. Donations had been received from the Ellesmere County Council, Ellesmere A. and P. Association, Southbridge and Leeston Town Boards, and Mr G. H. Ryde. The year began with a credit of £34/13/8 and ended with a credit of £26/19/9, but a grant of £24/17/- for last year's classes was still due from the Education Department. Throughout the year further representations had been made to the Canterbury Education Board for the provision of a suitable building at Leeston for technical classes. A deputation from the association had waited oh the board and had been favourably received. As yet the need had not been met and in consequence the association's activities- were greatly hampered. With the beginning of another year the need had again become pressing. Thanks were due to the Southbridge, Brookside, and Leeston School Committees and j to the Dunsandel Golf Club for the free use of -buildings. Women's , organisations had been invited to j appoint representatives to the association and this had been a source of increased strength in ascertaining the educational needs of the community. Thanks were due to the newspapers, particularly The Ellesmere Guardian, whose advocacy of the benefits of technical education had helped considerably in extending the work. The credit balance in the fund for the provision of a building at Leeston was given as £160/3/4. General Business In discussing the report the director mentioned that the grants from the Education Department for the year did not usually come to hand until the following March. This meant that the association's instructors had to wait a long time for their salaries. Mr Restall suggested that the matter should be brought to the notice of the Minister for Education. If it were made clear that the grants were needed for the payment of salaries he thought the Minister, who was a very reasonable man, would do something to expedite the payment of the department's grant. It was decided to act upon Mr Restail's suggestion. Mr Johnston was unanimously reelected chairman and he and the audi-

tor (Mr S. Bongard) were thanked for their good work. _. The director read a sheaf of letters from the Education Board and the department relating to the physical culture class held at Leeston last year. It was pointed out that as this subject was not included in the official list issued by the Department it could not be recognised. In con- -.d sequence the association had been obliged to bear the whole cost of hall hire and instructor's salary. The director read a list of the subjects included in the regulations and members commented that nearly every subject except physical culture was included. It was obvious, said Mr RestaO", that the list of subjects had been compiled a long time before there was any thought of instituting a fitness campaign, yet no other class could be of greater value from a national point of view. The matter should be brought to the notice of the Minister of Internal Affairs, who was responsible for the fitness campaign, in the liope that he would use his influence with the Minister of Education to aave physical culture included in the list of subjects for which the department would grant recognition. Other members agreed with Mr "1 ftestall and the suggestion was 4 adopted. + The director stated that he hatt^fc been advised by Mrs Chamberlain^ that there was a strong desire to iiave a gymnastic class at Dunsandel and that probably 20 students would anrol. There would be a difficulty about finance unless the Department vould grant recognition. Possibly the difficulty could be overcome by making the fee 10/- for 12 lessons. The difficulty of transport was also mentioned and it was suggested that this might be overcome by holding the class on the same higMrias a class for engineering or woodwork, when two instructors could travel • together. It was left to the director to discuss the proposal with Mrs Chamberlain and also to ascertain whether the use of the schoolroom could be secured. &* Other classes suggested were:— Dressmaking at Doyleston, home nursing at Leeston or •* Southbridge, arts and crafts at Southbridge, woodwork at Dunsandel, beaten copper work class at Leeston, arts and crafts at Lakeside, home nursing at Brookside, woodwork at Southbridge, gym- ~ nasties at Leeston. *■'- Prospective students are to be invited by advertisement to enrol either with the director or any member of the association and another meeting is to be held on April 17. Warm appreciation of the work of Mr Cartwright as director* was expressed by several members, who stated that the success of the classes was largely due to his enthusiasm and to the amount of time he had given to the work. He was voted the usual honorarium. Replying, Mr Cartwright said he recognised the great value of technical training and was pleased to do anything he could to promote its welfare. The large and representative attendance that evening and the enthusiasm shown indicated that the association had the whole community behind it in the work it was doing. ~t