TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 364, 10 April 1915, Page 12

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS. GENERAL MEETING. A nieeting of the Board of Governors or' the Christchurch Technical College was held last evening, there being present: Messrs Geo. Scott (in the chair), W. W. Charters, \V. V. Cooper, W. 11. Cooper, K Penham, J. J. Graham, C. 11. Opie, S". C. Owen, IL. R. EusI.'ridge, B. Seth-Smith, and J. I). Kail. APPOINTMENTS' COMMITTEIi

The Appointments' Committee reported that it had received a letter from the instructor in coach-building, stating that unless the numbers in the class increase he would feel compelled to resign at the end of the present term. •"

The report of the joint meeting of the Appointments' and Trades' Committees stated that they had considered the letter from the Wanganui Technical College with regard to the examination of apprentices in plumbing, and were of opinion that it is desirable that the examination of apprentices should be taken in /three sections covering two years' work each, instead of in one final examination.

The committee also reported that it had asked the Visiting Committees to consider and report on the proposal of issuing trade competency certificates. The report of the conference held between the Trades' Committee and the Honorary Visitors showed that the following trades were represented: —Cabinetmaking, carpentry and joinery, motor car body-making, engineering, plumbing, signwriting, and typography. It was suggested that time records should always be kept of the work done in carpentry and joinery, engineering, and signwriting, that lower-grade work should be undertaken in the plumbing section, and that a suitable press or machine must be obtained for the typographical section, in order that book-work may be undertaken. The introduction of a machine would also allow a machinists' class to be established. The report, as a whole, was approved and adopted.

CONDOLENCE. The chairman referred to the death of Bishop Grimes. He stated that in the early days of the college, when its work was little known, Bishop Grimes was a regular attender at college functions, and took a great interest in its progress. A motion of sympathy was carried in silence, the members ingTHE DIRECTOR *S REPORT. The Director (Mr J. 11. Howell) stated that at a conference with the evening school instructors, he placed before them the proposed scheme for the reorganisation of homework, and the members of the staff agreed as to its importance, though recognising the difficulties, especially in the case of students attending for three or four nights in the week.

The director stated that three senior students had recently obtained appointments. Mr P. Hawkins, who left the college two years ago to take up a position as Instructor in Woodwork in Gisboruc, had been appointed to a more important position under the Hawke's Bay Education Board at Napier, Mr Charles Brown, a cabinetmaking student, had been appointed to succeed Mr .Hawkins, and Mr P. Clark, a carpentry and joinery student, had been given a position as Woodwork Instructor at luvercargill. The director also stated that it was proposed -to hold the Girls' Swiming Sports at the Municipal Baths on Thursday, April 15, from 2 p.m. to 3.45 p.m., and the Boy 3' Swimming Sports on Thursday, April 22.

The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. With further reference to a letter from the college asking that the preferential duty on printing type and materials which had been imported from Germany and America be remitted, the Customs Department replied as follows: { ' This duty could have been avoided by importing British goods." Mr C. E. Tutill wrote tendering his resignation as instructor at the. typewriting evening classes, on account of accepting a busines appointment. The resignation was received. The yearly donation of £lO 10/- from the Farmers' Union was acknowledged. GENERAL BUSINESS. On the motion of Mr Rusbridge, seconded by Mr Opie, it was unanimously decided that Mr Scott's name be mentioned to the Minister of Education when he makes his appointments in connection with the Council of Education. Mr C. H. Opie moved that the Government be asked to give the college the right to elect, on the Council of Educ.taion, and that other technical schools in the Dominion be circularised asking their support in the matter. The motion was carried unanimously.