TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1628, 3 May 1919, Page 10

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS. The Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College met last night, there being present:—Messrs C. H. Opte (chairman). J. A- Black, T. D. Boag, W. H. Cooper, G. E. Franklin, W. R. Gahagan, C Israelson, A. Jeans, W. Jones, H. B. Riubridgc. A. Williams, 11. Worrell, McGregor B. Wright and J. A. J. Vren. Mrs H. Smith wrote enclosing a cheque Tor £5 1/- for the home science department, which was received with thanks. The chairman stated that over £450 bad been raised for the Old Boys' Memorial Fund. In addition to this there would be a £ for £ subsidy. The bazaar on Thurfdar had been instrumental in raising over £l7». A vote of thanks to those who bad helped to make the bazaar a success was carried. The retiring director (Mr J. H. Howell), In the course of his report, paid a tribute to the newly appointed director (Or D. E. Hansen), who was an old pupil and Head of his. Mr Howell also expressed his gratitude to the members of the board fur the confidence and support they had given him. He felt it a high privilege to have been associated with members in the building up of an institution which was such a power for good in the community. The report was adopted. The financial statement showed a bank balance of £623 3/8. On the recommendation of the Finance Committee it was decided to transfer fIMM from the General Fund for the purpose of completing the new wing of the college, which is to be known as the Old Boyi Memorial Wing. It was decided to remunerate part-time instructors for time lost during the influenza epidemic.

The Appointments Committee recommended that a bonus, equivalent to l*a months* salary, be paid to Mr i. H. Howrfl, the retiring director.—This was agreed to. The Buildings Committee reported that, as the radiators necessary for completing the heating installation at the college could not arrive from England before the winter, arrangements should be made for procuring them radiators. The committee bad beta unable to procure suitable roosts for woolclassing, but was making'further Inquiries.. The report was adopted. On tie recommendation of the Appointments Committee an all-round increase of 1/- per hour was granted to the parl-tima evening instructors. ' in view of the inadequate attendance at the "

class in pattern-making it wes decided that this class should be discontinued after the end of the present term. The chairman, in his report, referred to the Parliamentary committee which had been set up by the board to induce the Government to carry out some mcch-needrd reforms in technical education. The first of these in importance was provision for am adequate supply of property-trained teachers in home science, which was now everywhere recognised as being of fundamental importance. Under the present system an adequate supply of teachers could not be maintained and reforms must be made in two directions: (1) Students to training should be pieced on the sam* brsis as regards salary and privileges for training as the probationers in the primary schools service; (2) provision should be made for training teachers in other centres as well as in Dunedin, and for a course more definitely dhxeted to produce the skilled teacher and the skilled housewife. Another matter that demanded attention was the increase in the rates of capitation for the evening school and special flaws. From these rates the teachers were paid, and, unless they were increased to meet the increased cost of living, the technical colleges could not do justice to their teachers or maintain the necessary high standard. It was anticipated that the new Parliament would deaf with certain reorganisations in the educational system or the country. Therefore the committee should draft praposals to ensure the adequate representation of the claims of technical education on the controlling authorities. "Technical education," continued the chairman, "has made such strides in recent yean and near holds such an important place in oar system that it can be no longer given the same scant treatment that it has received in the past If the Council of Education is maintained technical education should receive very real, and not merely nominal representation on that body. .Further, the cumbrous system which involves so much waste or time and effort, under which Education Boards arc required to act as eontroOtna; authorities of all technical institution. Irrespective of their standing, should be forthwith abolished.** The committee should also secure the co-operation of the Board of Agriculture m endeavouring to obtain adequate financial assistance for the development or agricultural report was adopted. ' H