HAWERA TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 29 May 1919, Page 4

HAWERA TECHNICAL SCHOOL

♦ : MEETING QF COMMITTEE. At the ordinary meeting held on Wednesday evening, there were present; Messrs Murdoch (chair), Bone,

Sage, Gumming, Tait, Hooker, O. Hawken, Lynskey and the Director (Mr A. Gray). Apologies were rceived from Messrs D. J. Goodwin and H. J. Eaves. Votes of thanks were passed to the donors of trophies and medals for the sports, Messrs Lynskey, McLoughlin, Morrissey and Hooker. Cricket bats were promised by Messrs Hooker and Tugwell. * It was resolved that application be made to the Department for the apparatus and outfit required for the engineering classes. The chairman mentioned that he had, on behalf of the committee, written to the Minister, asking him to come to Hawera on July 1 to lay the foundation stone of the new Technical College. It was understood that the Minister had agreed to come. The principal's report stated that the numbers attending the various classes are: —Day—Commercial section, 78; arts and science, 51; engineering, 24; agriculture. 4; total, 157. Evening —English and arithmetic. 39; engineering, 20; shorthand and typewriting. 20; book-keeping, 16; cookery (nurses), 6; total, 10i. The classes are being conducted on the same lines as formerly, with the exception of lhe slight alteration necessary to bring them into line with the regulations governing

Technical High Schools. More desks are urgently required. Also there is urgent necessity for more engineering apparatus. This class is doing good work with the machinery available, but it is absolutely necessary that a lathe and •shafting machine, together with some motor power, should be supplied at an early date. The Foresters'' Hall has been supplied with two heaters, and I understand from the local electrical company that the third one will be installed in the course of a few days. The plans for the new school are now well in hand by the Board's foreman, and should be available shortly. I hope that by July Ist the school will be fully staffed, and then we shall be able to go straight ahead*. Students will be able to obtain full counses for engineering, agriculture, commercial and domestic instruction, while all candidates for public examinations will be catered for to a standard at least as high as that required for Junior University Scholarship. In a short resume of affairs Mr Gray said that the position was sound, and, he believed firmly, the prospects were excellent. The staff now consisted of one engineering, two commercial, three general instructors, one domestic instructress. He was recommending the appointment also of Miss Horton, M.A., from Auckland. There were also visiting instructors in dressmaking and agriculture. • When these matters were settled Hawera would have an excellent staff in every way. He considered that they should be careful when making application for apparatus and outfit for the new school, and that care should be taken to ask for all at once. He hoped that Hawera and district would support the school in every way, so that the staff would? feel they, had the people behind them in all their work on behalf of education. He considered that a good, well-got-up prospectus would be a fine advertisement for Hawera throughout the Dominion, for he would like to attract pupils in agriculture from all parts of the North Island. The subject should, he considered, be taught in such a way that it wouid be for purposes of training boys to become farmers, on the lines of Lincoln (N.Z.) or Hawkesbury (Australia). He referred to the urgent need for boarding establishments in connection with the school, and considered that an immediate move should be made in this direction, and suggested two sites as eminently suitable for the purpose. Referring to the grounds at the new college site, he said his idea was to suggest two entrances), at north and south end. with an oval between, flanked by two paths leading up to the school main entrance. The chairman said that it would be realised there was plenty of work in front of the committee. It was a big order, but he felt convinced that they were going to have in Hawera a firstclass educational institution. He hop-' ed to see Hawera a great educational j centre.

In answer to Mr Sage he said that! the committee would go out of office, in July or August. He considered that it would be necessary to go into the question of widening the powers of the committee, for at present these were merely advisory. Mr Sage said he considered the outline of work given by Mr Gray required an executive committee. The chairman said he feared that would not be given them. Mr Hooker said that the committee would have to keep in view the important work put before them. He felt sure that if accommodation could be secured, pupils would be attracted from centres where, owing to congestion,., there was difficulty in dealing with the large numbers offering. He referred to the urgent need of accommodation, and | on his motion, seconded by Mr Bone, it was resolved that a letter he written to the Department in regard to this need, and that they be asked to take steps to build hostels. Mr Bone drew attention to the unsuitability of the trains arriving from and leaving for the south. On his motion it was decided to ask the Railway Department to alter these trains so as to arrive at 10.30 a.m. and leave at 4.30 p.m., as previously. RESIGNATION OF CHAIRMAN. The chairman said that as he was leaving in a few days* on a visit abroad he tendered his resignation. He thanked members for the courtesy shown him during his term in the chair. He said . that the position would demand a great deal of work, and he was regretful at j having to leave just now. He would like to have been present at the laying! of the foundation stone of the school, which, he considered, would be an epoch in the history of technical educatin in Hawera. He now resigned his position as chairman, and left the matter in the hands of the" committee as to allowing him leave of absence as a member. Mr Hooker said he considered that an acting-chairman should be appointed. All members would appreciate the work done by the chairman, and he could assure them an immense amount had been done which was not known to them. The chairman had paid frequent visits to Wellington, and the interviews with the Minister had, he believed, done a lot towards the satisfactory settlement of their difficulties. He moved that the chairman be granted extended leave, and an acting-chairman be appointed. Mr Bone seconded, saying that this was, he considered, the right and proper course. The chairman said he appreciated very much the remarks made, but pointed out that the position would be that a new committee must have" its chairman. He would he away a long

time, and h e thought they must appoint a chairman. He, however, took the motion as a very great compliment.

After a little more discussion a motion, moved by Mr Sage and seconded by Mr Cumming, was carried, that, in conformity with the chairman's wishes his resignation as chairman be accepted with extreme regret. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Murdoch was carried unanimously, on the motion of Mr Hooker. In seconding, Mr Sage said he honed Mr Murdoch would gather all he could about technical education in the States and in the Old World. Mr Gray, in supporting the motion, said he owed a deep debt of gratitude to Mr Murdoch for the great encouragement he had given him in his work. The chairman, in acknowledgment, returned sincere thanks for the appreciation expressed. He said he always gave any work he took up all the energy he possessed. The new chairman would have a straight road. He considered that in agriculture New t Zealand was much behind the States. He would make it his business to visit agricultural schools abroad wherever possible and would bring back all the suggestions he could collect. NEW CHAIRMAN. Mr L. A. Bone was> unanimously elected chairman of the committee. He said in acknowledgment that he hoped to be able to use the experience he had gained for the benefit of the cause of education. VALEDICTORY. In bidding good-bye to the members, Mr Murdoch said he gave them his best wishes for the work before them. He did not altogether appreciate the work in front of him t . It would be hard work to secure all they wanted in America. The meeting then closed.