TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 9

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

VICE-PRINCIPAL WANTED

MINISTER REFUSES

Steps have recently been taken bythe Technical College Board-of Governors to have a vice-principal appointed to the college to assist the principal, Mr. R. G. Ridling, and to enable the heads .of the various departments of . the college to devote more time to th»ir work of supervision. A letter was sent to the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, pointing out the reasons necessitating the appointment, but at last night's meeting of the board a reply was received from the Minister refusing the request. / The Minister's refusal was considered deplorable, by the chairman of the board, Mr. W. H. Bennett, and it was decided that a deputation should wait upon the Minister to put the position before him personally. . - ' After reading the Minister's reply, Mr. Bennett said that it seemed to him that in the case of a large institution like the college, where boys and girls were educated in the best interests of industry, some better consideration of the circumstances should have been given by the Minister. No one could deny the fact that if the boys and girls were separated two principals would be necessary. The fact that the Minister had declined to appoint a vice-principal in a large college like the AVellington Technical College was, he thought, deplorable. The duties 'of the principal were overwhelming, and he thought that the board should continue to press for the appointment. Mr. A. C. Blake, in moving that a deputation from the board should wait on the Minister with a view to getting him to reconsider his decision, said that the Minister, from his letter, was evident-, ly Tinder the misapprehension that he was granting; some relief to the principal and "the heads of departments. If was the duty of the board to point out that he •was actually giving no relief at all.