TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1932, Page 4

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEET. The- monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the Greymouth Technical High School was held last even ing. Present: Messrs T. E. Coate> (chairman), J. B. Kent, F. L awi , W Kyle, £. K. Millar, F. L. Turley. .1. Goodall, W. H. Parfitt, A. J. Fairmaoi and the Principal Mr A. McLaren. An apology for absence was received from -Mr W. Blair. The Chairman welcomed Mr McLaren who suitably replied. Tho Finance Committee in its report stated that the Board’s credit balance at the present time was £483 9/6. The sum of £154/4/9 was being held as an endowment income, leaving £’3l/4/9, less accounts amounting to £165/18/2, which leaves an actual credit balance of £165/6/7. The Book Fund, to be known as the James Hutton Book Fund, which had been subscribed to by pupils had the sum of £5 in the bank, whilst Mr Hutton had donated £5 as a subsidy on the amount collected. The pupils desired that tills fund should be applied to the supply of text books in the most necessitous cases and that it be left to the Principal to ensure a proper distribution. The pupils had taken it upon themselves to add to the fund from tine to time.

The Principal stated that there was no-w an attendance of 323 pupils, an increase on the number at this timo last year. The number from Dobson, Taylorville, Stillwater and Blackball, had this year decreased by halt. About one third of the pupils, namely 106 come by train, and if the Economy Commission’s suggestion was adopted, the school’s attendance would drop considerably. It would be a great pity if children were compelled to p?.j their train fare to get to school. The Chairman did not thing the Department would stop free passes on railways. It would probably be done

with other means of conveyance. It was decided that a letter be sent to the Minister of Education and to Mr J. O’Brien, M.P-, protesting against the stopping of Tree passes for child ren on railways It was decided to instal a light in the girl’s cloak room. Messrs Parfitt and Kyle were appointed a visiting committee for tho ensuing month. The Principal stated that young men in trades were not attending evening classes and he thought thai some attempt should be made to get apprentices to attend evening classes, l as it was really necessary, or other- “ wise they would be backward and unable to pass their examinations. He was proud to have a good evening d ass. Mr Turley said there were only about three or four apprentices In the town. The Principal said ‘he reg stored Plumbers Examination would h* cut. out. The matter was left in the hands of tho Principal and the Chairman tc endeavour to have employers Lave their apprentices attend evening classes. The Principal (Mr McLaren) re ported as follows for the period ending 11th. March 1932.—The School roll now stands at 322—a slight increase on last year’s enrolments. Tho first year entrants are now 124, 115 being enrolled at this time last year. The manual classes are no w in full swing, all country schools being suitably provided for. A new enrolment—first year boy —has been made at the School Hostel this month. There aro now eleven pupils boarding at tho Hostel. Our evening classes opened on Monday, 7th March. This week

we are enrolling pupils in the following classes. —Junior Shorthand and Typing, Shorthand Speed, Junior and Senior Bookkeeeping, Dressmaking, Invalid Cookery, Senior English. Junior Free Place English and Arithmetic, French or Latin, Mathematics, Practical Chemistry, Plumbing—theory and practice, Woodwork —theory and practice. Mechanical Drawing. Motor Engineering. "Workshop Practice and Elec - trie Wiring. These classes, as yet small in numbers, must be attended regularly otherwise they may be discontinued.