TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 4 March 1914, Page 8

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

The annual nu>e;i<yg for the election of a committee for :':o Technical School was held on Tue^ir.y night. There _was a fair attendance, aud the Rev. G. W. Dent occupied tho oh.dr. Mr Braik, chief inspector, and Mr Browne, chief director, were present. The report stated that the compulsory clause for ;st tendance came into force at the beginning of the year, and as a consecj uence the attendances had been better than in previous years. A good deal of enthusiasm had been shown at the oonjmencement of the year, but later it \v:;ned. Pupihy were rather undecided as to their choice of subjects, and a good many of them had frequently changed from one subject- to another. Th** report suggested that provision be mmie for stopping this changing of si:by?'T.;. Gas had been installed and paid for during the year. The Borough Council arid County Council had each given Cfi ro the funds during the year. This year the school had earned £100, as against £25 last year. The balance-sheet showed a profit of £9 2s 6d for the year.

Mr Carter moved and Mr Cresswell seconded, that the report and balancesheet be received.

Items for repnirs and cleaning were taken exception to, as they were not authorised by the onmmittee, and Mr Browne explained how these items had been charged. The chairman wished to know the reason for the increased .cost of super-

vision, and Mr Brow tie stated that- the cost of supervision had increased because a number of the smaller centres had not had classes and the main centres had to bear proportionately the cost of supervision. Mr Gow congratulated the committee and the director on the satisfactory report and on the year's work. He was pleased to note that the enforcement -of the compulsory classes had had a good effect. A good deal of discussion took place as to the manner of keeping of the accounts, which had been done by the Board, and Mr Braik explained that the committee had the right to appoint its own treasurer and keep its own ac-

counts, and if they had not done so that was their own omission. He congratulated the committee and the director, Mr Lightbournej on the very satisfactory progress made during the year. With reference to pupils- changing from class to class, they needed to be careful lest they lost their capitation by the. changing. The director had said that boys changed from classes that required brain work to classes for manual work. A syllabus in carpentering would be prepared to meet those taking up that work. He referred to the continuation classes in New South Wales not having been a success, and a movement was now on foot there to make these classes compulsory, as they were here. He thought a continuity of instruction should be kept up from the primary school. The motion was carried. On the. motion of Mr Gow, seconded by Mr Hill, it was resolved that the District High School Committee be the Technical School Committee. Mr Dent brought before Mr Braik the inadequacy of the room for the work, and hoped he would bring the matter before the- proper authorities. Mr Lightbourne and Mr Ongley also pointed out the disadvantages of the technical pupils, meeting in the same room as the high school. Mr Braik the committee to make representations to the Board on the matter, and he had no doubt the Board would.send it on to the Department. Mr Browne pointed Out that they must show that their attendance warranted an additional room, and they must also be prepared to raise money locally, say, £25. Mr Dent said that he would like to public for collections to run the educapublic for cellections to run _ the aducation system. It was degrading to have to do this for such an institution.