TUITION IN MOTOR MECHANICS

Southland Times, Issue 24448, 30 May 1941, Page 4

TUITION IN MOTOR MECHANICS

REQUEST OF WOMEN’S WAR SERVICE AUXILIARY

“Members of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary may be given free instruction in motor mechanics provided they are holders of free places and two or more related subjects are taken as required by the free place regulations.”

This was the reply which Mr C. A. Stewart, principal of the Southland Technical College, received from the Director of Education (Dr C. E. Beeby) in answer to a telegram asking if free instruction in motor mechanics could be given at the college to young women and girls belonging to the Women’s War Service Auxiliary in Invercargill. At a meeting of the board of management of the college last night Mr Stewart reported that he had sent the telegram to the Director of Education after receiving the following letter from the auxiliary:—“The women’s War Service Auxiliary has approximately 80 young women and girls enrolled and eager to carry out transport duties. We learn from the Minister of National Service that technical colleges throughout the Dominion are co-operating with the auxiliary and have arranged classes in motor mechanics for them. We realize that the demands on your staff are many, but we would be very grateful if you could accommodate these women and girls in your classes.”

Mr Stewart added that he had informed the auxiliary of the director’s reply and had quoted fees for a suitable course of instruction. However, judging from previous experience he thought it unlikely that members of the auxiliary would be willing to pay the fees.

In his letter to the auxiliary Mr Stewart wrote: —“I understand that a somewhat similar organization attached to the St. John Ambulance Association has been allowed to attend classes in motor mechanics in another technical college for a nominal fee. Your letter leads me to suppose that you have information about such conditions in other centres. I would, therefore, suggest that you present your case to the Director of Education, Wellington, with all relevant information. We might then be able to make some arrangements in time for the beginning of our second term which opens on Monday, May 26.”

Mr Stewart said that so far he had heard nothing further about the matter.