TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Southland Times, Issue 20200, 10 June 1927, Page 10

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

MEETING OF BOARD. ROUTINE BUSINESS TRANSACTED. Business of a routine nature was transacted at last night’s monthly meeting of the Southland Technical College Board. Mr J. H. Reed (chairman) presided over the following members:—Messrs G. R. Cooper, W. G. Tait, A. W. Jones, J. D. Trotter, J. J. Moore and J. Henry. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. le H. Hoyles and A. Service. Correspondence was received from the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce and the Invercargill Borough Council enclosing donations of £l5 and £3O respectively.—Decided to thank donors. The chairman and the principal (Mr C. A. Stewart) were appointed representatives of the board to attend the annual conference of Technical College Boards. Mr Jones reported on the conference between members of the board and the Invercargill motor traders with reference to the establishing of a class in motor manufacturing at the college. The speaker said he was rather surprised that the Education Department had replied that it could not see its way clear to make a grant for the housing of the proposed class. The local motor traders had made an offer of £5O in cash and probably two chassis (at least one) and any other equipment necessary for the establishment of a class provided the college supplied the accommodation. The cost of housing the class would be only £2OO, and seeing that similar classes were established in other centres, they should not be satisfied with the department’s reply, but make a further appeal for the grant. Motor trading was now a national scheme and young men should be encouraged to better themselves in the various branches of the work. He hoped the Government would see its way clear to spend the money on such a worthy scheme.—lt was decided to send a further letter to the department to try to get the scheme working. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. Vacation Since last meeting the school was closed a fortnight for the term vacation. You will remember we failed in our endeavour to make our vacation coincide with that of the local High Schools; as events turned out, this was rather fortunate, since the second week of our holidays was Carnival Week. Had we closed and reopened on the same dates as the High Schools, our attendance for that week, especially in evening classes, would have been seriously effected. This will be a matter to keep in mind in future arrangement of terms, if the Carnival is to become an annual aiffair. Winter Show:—For various reasons our school has not had many exhibits in the Winter Show for some years past. One difficulty is that, by the end of the first term, pupils in many classes have little work ready for exhibition; and it is not always advisable or possible to show the work completed in the previous year. This year we had a good number of exhibits from the Engineering, Building and Domestic Departments, and a small number in Art classes. I believe the standard of work was quite satisfactory: in fact the judge in the Machine Drawing Section said the work was of a higher quality than in previous years. We propose next year to suggest that the age limits be abolished in favour of limits by school years. Memorial Tablet:—On May 11 an impressive ceremony was held in the Assembly Hall, when the Old Students’ Association unveiled a memorial tablet in honour of the Old Boys who fell in the War. This tablet was handed over to the board and the school for safe keeping. It is a fine piece of caning in English oak, done by Mr Lipscombe. Roll Numbers: A few new pupils joined at the beginning of this term. Otherwise the roll numbers remain much as before, except in one or two second-year classes. A good many parents are feeling the stress of hard times at present; but the great majority realise the wisdom of keeping their children at school, even at a sacrifice, rather than taking them away without a clear prospect of work for them. Several of our evening classes are rather small, but none are likely meantime to be cut out by the department. The only new class being formed is one in Plumbing Theory and Drawing. Outdoor Activities:—Since the beginning of the year we have had a small but enthusiastic boxing class conducted by an old boy of the school after school hours. This is a new departure, and we expect the interest in this form of sport to grow. I believe that boxing should be part of the regular training of the football teams. Our Tuesday afternoon games are running satisfactorily for the boys, but we are cramped for room for the girls’ activities, especially in basketball. The report was adopted.