TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Grey River Argus, 11 December 1928, Page 3

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Board of Governors. The ordinary meeting of the Board of Governors of the Greymouth Technical College was held last evening, there being present Alefsrs T. E Onates ((''hairman). F. 11. Kilgour, F. Turley. A. J. Fairnmid, J. Goodall and I. B. Kent, the Principal,. Mr J. Hut ton. being also present.

The Chairman said that before they began ordinary business, he had a sad duty to perform, as >inco their last meeting one of /the Board’s oldest members, Air W. R. Kettle, hail passeo away, and the Board desired to place on record its recognition of his valuable work ns a member and a citizen. With Mr Kilgour, ho had been one of the pioneer members who came over from the old High School Board whereon he had co-operated in safeguarding the funds, so that a substan tial rum had been handed ov< r to the Botfid when it began. The late Mr Kettle, in his honorary capacity, had worked to nurse, the educational invest mints, and took a livp interest. in 'Ciiool matters, bi ing always one of those to meet the ATinister of Eduea tioji in seeking grants for their hos tel or any other object. The speaker had worked with him on the Borough Council and other local holies, finding him a sti rling worker, who considered only the public interest, ami neglect ;‘d no while his word was hi - bond. His example had been a

wond.rful one. and the speaker moveo that to his widow and family the Board tender a vote of condolence and that it record a minute testifying its sense of his worth and its recog nit ion of his work in the cause of 'ducat ion. The motion was carried, the members standing in silence. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs W. Blair, J. Kyle and F. Lawn. It was re olved, on the motion nf Messrs Kent and Goodall, that, in re sponse to a request from the Nelson Technical College Board of Ala lingers its protest against the increase in th? scab' of fees for evening clasees Ik supported. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Air Kilgour (Chairman) submitted the Finance Committee’s report as fol lows: —The sum of £125 2s has been paid into the credit of the Board’s endowment income account, against which tenders have been called for th< painting of fences, roofs, etc, of the main building. The Board may uti lise their endowment income by meet ing accounts for repairs and mainten ance to the school buildings. The Board’s general account now stands nt £ll5 Gs 10d. We recommend that accounts under the following heads bo passed for payment: Government grants £361 0s fid, general £65 15s lOd. manual £8 l«s sd. grounds £4 H> i I'o hostel £4B. 7s Cd—total. £4BB 10s Cd. The report was adopted. SIZE OF CLASSES. The Education Department wrote in reference to the recognition of classes and the regulations as to the minimum size of classes. For the main centres, 25 was the minimum, and lor othci large centres 20. while the figure foi Grey mouth was 18. The Department would, however, suggest the pooling o the work, so that classes might be made up to the required size. Any application for recognition of classeswould be considered on its merits in ; a ]>artieular place., without, however, altering the regulations. Alembers re marked that 18 was a high figure for this town, when 25 .sufficed for any ot the feur main centres; but satisfaction was expressed at the reply, the Department being evidently prepared to meet the Board in the matter. INSURANCE OF PUPILS. The Education Department wrote, in reply to the Board’s inquiry, that it had no scheme fo r insuring pupils against accidents, though in the past it had mot some special cases. The British Alercantile Insurance Coy had a scheme which was recommended, under which p,upils could be insured a> the rate of 4s per hundred, with a 300 minimum. The Chairman favour cd taking out a policy, as for the low premium it was well worth it. r lhe Principal said the Department only shouldered insurance for teachers in the course of their duties., school built | ings and equipment, but not sports oil other apparatus, or libraries. Air Tut ley asked if the policy would covet I football accidents. Air Kilgour saidany accident in the school or play ground would be covered, and they hould take advantage of the scheme, which had a yearly’ limit of £uoo. The Principal said that including hostel inmates, the rate would be 5s per 100 I pupils. On. the motion of ATessrs Kil

■gnur mid Goodall, it was resolved to take < nt a policy at ss. covering 300. In reply to Mr Turley, the Principal sai l tin re was no legal obligation to insure. VISITING COMMITTEE. For the Visiting Committee. Air Fairmaid reported tenders had been called fop painting, ami visited the hostel, where gates were found to be neees ary, as at present there were only slip rails at the main entrance, with nothing at all at the other. It was recommended that a gate with 1 wicket, in keeping with the hostel, be provided, and that a man be cm-1 ployed to clean up the road frontage which work the pupils already had begun. It was also recommended that the lawns at the school be limed an i top-dressed during the vacation. On rhe motion of Mr Kilgour. it was de•ided to have the recommendations car tied out. Mr Turley trusted Mr Kent would induce the Borough Council to ee to Ih,» road. PRINCIPAL’S MONTHLY REPORT. The evening classes at th ( > school camp to a conclusion on 30th November. The <da ses at Reefton have closed down, as the rooms are. I believe being used for public service and matriculation examinations. The term will < nd for all manual classes and for th: Technical High School on Friday, 1-119 December. During the last few week? the public service and matriculation examinations have been in progress. At he roc' iit Public Service Commission ers’ examinaton for shorthand typist es the following day and evening stu dents were successful:—Senior P.S.C.: Grace Wylie. Phyllis Hayden (evening students); Junior P.S.C.: Grace Wylie. Myrtle Rigg ((‘veiling students), Ritx Anderson. Alison Hambleton. Isohel Duncan, Zoe Kilgour (day students; The school breaking-up and distribution of prizes will take place on Frday afternoon next. The report was adopted. TENDERS FOR PAINTING. Tenders for the painting of the rpchnical School buildings (roofs, eaves ami sashes, etc) were received from F. Roberts, Blaketown (£5B), an I •J. A. Hart. Ltd (£129). The Visiting Committee (Messrs Fairmaid and Kent) reporting on the tenders, stated that, in view of the wide disparity between the amounts, they had decided to leave the responsibility of accept nice with the Board. The Chairman ami Mr Kilgour favoured the accept inco of the lower tender. Air Kent said that as he doubted if the work •ould be carried out for the price (£5B). he would suggest that the Board ask the tenderer to find a bonds

man, so as to ensure that the specifi rations would be carried out. The lower tender was more than fifU er cent, below the estimate of the Board’s adviser. The Chairman said he did not favour accepting the ten dir that was more than £7O abovi the lower one. Mr Kilgour said tie Board could only accept the lower ten der. The Chairman raid the lower ten lercr might, be convinced he had as good a knowledge of what the prlct should be as Mr Kent. M•• Kent said ■he Board’s duty was to see that tlu work was done properly, as if it wcr not, the Board would be the loser. Th. Chairman said their adviser would set o that. Air Kent thought that, ii

view of his estimate, the adviser .vould not care to be responsible in he matter. Mr Kilgour asked whai Mr Fairmaid had to say on the point The Chairman aid they were custodi •is of Government money. Air Turley aid if the lower tenderer could no’ lo the job at his price, he would be he loser. The Chairman moved that if, after being advised of the opinion expressed by Mr Kent, the lower V n leter were prepared to find a bonds man for £2O. his tender be accepted Messrs Tuiley ami Kilgour moved that he tender of Mr Roberts be accepted Mr Turley remarking no bond had Leon specified when calling tor tenders Mr Kent moved as an amendment tha.’ *t be a condition of acceptance tha lie contractor furnish a bondsman thai .the work would be carried out in it entirety according to the specifka Ition-. Air Goodall seconded the am I .ndment. On a division, the amend meat was defeated, th e Chairman. Messrs Turley and Kilgour votiu.? against it, and the mover and second er for it. The Chairniau proposed tha

in the event of the contractor unjtrepartd to go on with tli ( « work, ills deposit be returned, and that fur fiver t< nders be then called. Air Kent said this was a reversal of ntti tudr. ATj- Fail maid said tl.c deposi. was at stake. The Chairman said Alt K'nt. owing to hi' practical knowledge had very properly done his best to protect both the Board and the ten dcrer, and if the latter were still sat isfhd to do the work, well ami good Mr Kent said that nevertheless the Board had referred the tenders to the Visiting Committee, but had not taken practically any notice of their re commendation. Mr Kilgour said he favoured the lower tender. Mr Kent [sai l the lowest tender was not always accepted, a fact which had been illustrated by local bodies of late, when tenders were more than a certain per centage below the ’estimate. The Chairman said they had to remember it wa a not their own money, but that of the Government, with which they were dealing. The motion to accept the lower ten ler was finally carried, Mr Kent dis renting. PURCHASE OF SECTION. The Chairman said that, it having come to his knowledge that the section ■it tho corner of High and Marlborough Streets, within the block comprising tho school grounds, could be (‘cured from the owner, Mr Abe Richirdson, for £5OO. he had taktn steps f o obtain it for the Board. The Prin had communicated with life luthorities at Wellington who at first suggested tin* Board should use its 'ndowment income to buy the section ■eengnising its value to tho College. I ilowover, the authorities later had adeised that the Minister of Education uid agreed to make a straight out ’rant of £5OO. and consequently he had 1 iow arranged for purchase, which only ( ♦cquired tho Board’s authorisation. It j .eemod a good proposition, especially ! .vhen the State would finance it. It rrtighf eventually mean the Board’s! icquisition of the whole block. Alessrs Turley and Kilgour moved hat the action of the (’hairman bo •ndorsed, and that the completion of | he purchase be authorised. The mo ■ ■ion was carried unanimously. M r Kil | gour remarking that the College was ‘ indebted to the Chairman for his k*a n interest and prudent action in fOcur , ing the section. Mr Turley endorsed these remarks. The Chairman explain ?d that it had bo n inadvisable previously to give the matter any publicity. (Laughter.) The Chairman said that as this ,vould be their last meeting of the •ear. he had much pleasure in extend ng to the m nibirs of the Board the >est wishes for a merry Christmas and i happy New Year.