SERVICE TO EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23002, 1 April 1938, Page 13

SERVICE TO EDUCATION

MR. W. S. LA TROBE RETIRES WORK IN TECHNICAL HELD [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Thursday With the retirement to-day of the superintendent of technical education, Mr. W. S. La Trobe, not only the Education Department, but the education service as a whole will suffer a severe loss.

Mr. La Trobe was born at Nga Roto, in the Waikato district in 1870 and received his early education at the Paterangi School and later at the Auckland Collego and Grammar School, gaining there a junior university scholarship and proceeding to the Auckland University College.

After graduating with honours in mathematics and methematical physics, Mr. La Trobe went to Cambridge University and graduated with first-class honours in parts (1) and (2) of the mechanical sciences tripos. Later, he became assistant-lecturer and demonstrator in tho engineering laboratories of Cambridge University. Mr. La Trobo was appointed director of the Wellington Technical School in 1904. In 1919 the position of superintendent of technical education was created, and he was chosen as the first officer to hold this position. During his period of office, extending over nearly 20 years, Mr. La Trobe has been of inestimable value to the department, not only in his administration of technical education generally, but also when he has acted as director of education during the absence of his senior officer.