TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2311, 14 March 1914, Page 2

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

ANNUAL MEETING OF

HOUSTEHOLDERS

NEW COMMITTEE ELECTED

The- annual meeting of householders to elect representatives on the Technical School Committee for the current year was held last evening, Mr A. li. Atkinson occupying the chair, and there were also nresent the Rev. G. Budd, Messrs H. H. Richardson, W. E. Bramwell, A. 0. Aldis, Peters, Burley, and L. L. Hitchings. Mr Fred Pirani. Chairman of the Education Board, Mr G. D. Braik, Chief Inspector, and Mr J. Matthews, Technical School Director, also attended. An apology for absence was received from Mr D. H. Guthrie, M.P.

The financial statement for 1913 showed that £694 ls Id was received, the principal items being: Government grants £381 14s Id, voluntary contributions £118 12s, and class fees £191 18s 6d; whilst expenditure totalled £633. lis lOd, including instructors' salaries £440 15s 2d, travelling expenses £35 5s j 7d, printing, stationery and stamps £20 8s 7d, lighting, cleaning and_ heating £73 6s 6d, apparatus £14 17s lid, material £12 14s Bd, rent £10 15s, and office administration £13 8s lOcl, showing a gain on the year's working of £60 9s 3d. The balance-sheet showed a liability on the building account of £164 0s 9d, and on the working acount of £407 10s sd, a total of £571 lis 2d. The money assets included Government grants of £274 4s 3d, voluntary contributions £10, class fees £12 2s 6d, showing a net debit balance on the building account of £164 0s 9d aud a net debit on the working account of £111 3s Bd. In moving the adoption of the report (published in yesterday's Star) and balance-sheet tile Chairman eulogised the capable work of the Director, Mr J. Matthews, as shown by the considerable increase in attondauco, amounting to 67 per cent., whilst capitation had increased 75 per cent. Mr Matthews had also done splendid work in initiating classes in new centred. He considered that the compulsory attendance clauses should be adopted as their operation was vital to technical school work.

Mr W. F. Bramwell seconded the motion . and endorsed the sentiments exm-essed about Mr Mat-

thews' i;i his capacity as director. He was pleased a profit of over £60 was shown on tho year's working, and considered that the school was now in a better position than ever before. Mr L. L. Hitchings congratulated the Director on the success which had attended his efforts and the school on providing young people with a reasonable and inviting means of acquiring further knowledge.

Mr Fred Pirani pointed out that it was impossible for the Education Board to give the Technical School Committee control of finance, as there .was no statutory power to do so. He pointed out that Mr Matthews had "charge of the school for six months only of last year, and consequently the wonderful results shown by him should be eclipsed this year. They had to remember that previous directors were " considerably handicapped by having other duties to perform, and this prevented them giving all their time to directorship, but the success shown by Mr Matthews proved that the Board was wise in instituting a change by relieving the Director of outside work. Mr G. D. Braik spoke on the operation of the compulsory continuation clauses of the Act, and stated that Hawera, Eitham, and Wanganui were unquestionably in favour of their operation, notwithstanding slight objections which had been experienced and overcome. The Eitham Technical School, by having the compulsory clauses .'in operation, had been made a very successful institution. Where the compulsory clauses were" adopted girls were not.asked to come to classes at night, as the syllabus was regulated to allow them to attend day classes, and the committee could determine tho area over which the clauses would operate. The Chairman of the Board was responsible" for Mr Matthews' appointment, a?id the selection had proved a splendid one. He. congratulated Mr Matthews on the good results attained.

j After discussing other matters, reported under separate headings, the election of four members to represent the householders was proceeded with, and Messrs F. Y. Lethbridge, L. L. Hitchings, Jl Cobbe, and Jas. Campbell were appointed. With these gentlemen, the following constitute the Committee, the local bodies represented being shown in parentheses: ,The Mayor, Mr A. M: Ongley (Feilding Borough Council), Mr O. McElroy (Oroua County Council), Mr S. Andrew (Pohangina County Council), Mr W. Morton (Kiwitea County Council), Mr L. Gorton (Manawatu County Council), Mr A. IT. Atkinson (A. and P. Association), Mr B. E. Murphy.(Chamber of Commerce), Mr Fred Pirani and Mr D. H. Guthrie, M.P. (Wanganui Education Board), Mr H. H Richardson (Rector District High School), Rev. G. Budd (District High School Committee), and Mr J. W. Bramwell (Lytton-street School Committee). |

The Committeo appointed Mr F. Y. Lethbridge as Chairman for the current year, and will meet at 8 p.m. on the first Tuesday in each month.