TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

Grey River Argus, 16 June 1942, Page 3

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

BOARD OF GOVERNORS. The monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the Greymouth Technical High School was held last evening, there being present: Messrs T. E. Cojates (Chairman),' IP. J. McLean, A. A. Adams, T. Pratt, W. H. Parfitt, D. S. Kennedy, and the Principal (Mr. W. M. Stewart). The Greymouth Manpower Committee writing in regard to an appeal for Mr. W. B. Hutton ;and Mr. Ormandy (teachers) stated that latter appeal had been refused, but the appeal for Mr. Hutton was allowed. „ , , , The Grev Hospital Board asked it use of the main buildings would be allowed for emergency hospitals, ine Principal had replied stating that the 'Board Would co-operate with the Hospital Board in every way possible. Mrs C. H. Lindsay and Mr. E.. B. E Taylor, members, wrote resigning from the Board as both are leaving the district. The resignations were accepted with regret, it being decided to send a letter Y>f appreciation to Mrs Lindsav. Mr. W. A. Johnston writing re annual woodwork prizes for pupils of the school, said there would be some difficulty in securing prizes and it would be advisable to curtail the prize-giving for the war period, ine letter was received, a vote of thanks being passed to Mr. Johnston. The Education Department wrote in regard to the requisitioning of buildings, requesting that the buildings be not handed over without a formal requisition notice, except in the case of a sudden emergency, lhe Department also directed that returns of all machines, tools and engineering equipment should be made by the schools t o the Department The Principal said the matter was m Principal stated that the 'Primary Manual Classes at the school would require to be . raar^ a f^ ( L„ sequent on the' opening of the Mari Technical School. Mr Adams stated that two open drains on the hostel grounds caused much flooding in wet weather, lhe drains should be connected to the pipe drains or kept clean. The matter was referred to the visiting committee. , ... „„ Approval was expressed at the action of the trustees of the Assembly Hall Fund in investing £l5OO m Liberty Loan Bonds, while, the Education' Department wrote in connection with the building of an assembly hail stating that they could not undertake to give a subsidy of f2 for £1 for the erection of the building. It was also stated that the work m connection with the erection of tne caretaker’s cottage, the library and the rehabilitation of the school buildings to allow staff accommodation could not be carried out during tne W The Public Works Department advised that owing to unforseen circumstances the price for the construction of air raid. shelters at the school had been increased to £1697 Js. Mr. Kennedy stated that the price had subsequently been reduced. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Kennedy for his work in connection with the shelters. The Principal reported he had written to the Education Department reporting on the construction of the shelters. Mr. Parfitt on behalf of the Visiting Committee reported that air raid shelters were satisfactory. Repairs to spouting were required at the school. Everything else was in order.

. Messrs Adams and Kennedy were appointed to the Visiting Committee for the ensuing month. The school] has a credit balance of £BB5 7s lid. Accounts were passed for payment as follows: —Hostel £122 6s 9d; school £lB4 6s 6d. The Principal reported:—Three pupils have been admitted and fourteen withdrawn, leaving the roll at 307, comprising 164 boys and 143 girls. One of the boys withdrawn, a senior proposing to sit for the engineering preliminary at the end of the year, has been drafted for Territorial service. Five withdrawals are due to removal from the district. The average attendance for the period has been 91.7 per cent. The attendance is at present affected by a good deal of seasonal influenza. Mrs. Reddell relinquished duties at the end of last term. Mr. Hutton resumed work at the beginning of the present term. Mr. J. Excell, the school’s caretaker and groundsman, has been compelled on medical advice to seek leave from duty for three months. Mr. C. Haglund, is carrying on in the meantime. The recent long spell of wet weather has made it difficult to preserve the usual attractive condition of the grounds, but the willing help of pupils has enabled this difficulty to be largely overcome. The raid shelters are now completed, and regular practice in the speedv evacuation of the school buildings has begun. Foot"ball and basketball are in full swing. Three fifteens are engaged in regularSaturday competition under > the Rugbv Union, and in basketball', two teams play regularly on Saturday and five in midweek competitions. Boxing classes are attended by a considerable number of the boys. School subscriptions received since last report amount to £27 19s 6d, making a progress total for the year of £B6-9s od, while other receipts have totalled 7s 7d. Payments have amounted toi £8 16s 9d. There are no accounts outstanding. The credit balance in hand is £134 19s Od. The manual training in woodwork and cookerv is following its usual successful routine. The majority of the evening classes show satisfactory attendances, but there are several in which the average is lower than it should be, quite apart from the present abnormal conditions. The attention of parents and other responsible persons is drawn to the necessity of ensuring that students attent regularly, as it is impossible for the classes! to do their best work if the attendance of students is irregular. Mr. McLean said that the attention of young people should be drawn to the fact that the evening classes were not being taken advantage of.