TECHNICAL COLLEGE MANAGERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17424, 19 September 1918, Page 2

TECHNICAL COLLEGE MANAGERS.

A meeting of the Technical College Managers was held, yesterday * afternoon. Mr T. Scott (chairman) presided. The Chairman, speaking- on a report by the Agricultural Committee, explained the necessity for acquiring a piece of ground, and asked Mr Duthie to state what had been done. The remainder of the proceedings wore taken in committee, Mr Duthie stating that the committee was not in a position to report definitely on the matter. —It was agreed to grant the committee authority to act. The Athsnseum Committee wrote intimating that it intended to offer a membership ticket for the successful pupil in English and history.—To be acknowledged with thanks.

The Director reported that pupils coming a considerable distance daily by train to the Technical High School dicl not as a rule make very satisfactory progress in their studies, and the results of the recent term examinations indicated that in many ca&ss, owing to the loss of time and energy cn their part, these country pupils should bo recommended to attend the* district high schools in the vicinity of their own homes. He felt inclined to recommend that pupils living bsvond a radius of 30 miles from the college be not admitted unless arrangements could be made to board them in Dunedin from Monday to Friday of each week. This raised the question of a hostel for such pupils. It seemed to him that if the managers considered the time inopportune for the erection of the building designed a few years ago arrangements of i, temporary nature should be made before the beginning of next year. Perhaps a* suitable building might bo leased for a term, or one or more members of the staff might undertake the charge of a limited number of these pupils.—lt was suggested that parents of pupils resident in the country be informed of the disadvantages such pupils laboured under, owing to the strain placed upon them by so much train travelling. The point stressed was that their energy was so expended that they were not capable of exerting themselves over their studies to the extent that they could jf they stayed in town for the time being. This raised the question of a hostel, the Chairman remarking that it would be three years before that could be obtained. It would cast £7CCO, and they oould not raise such a sum.—The question as to country pupils was referred to a committee, consisting of the chairman, Dr Colquhoun, the Hon. G. M. Thomson, and the director fMr Marshall), to report.