THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13277, 30 November 1911, Page 3

THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

In accordance with notice given, Mr. Easton moved that the resolution passed by the Hoard at its September meeting conferring on the Technical Committee complete control of matters connected with technical instruction be rescinded, the same bcin;; ■ultra vires. Mr. Easton complained that a committee had no power to deal with the finances of the Board, and the Board no power to delegate to a committee of the Board any function;whatever without reference to the Board. Mr. Shepherd seconded the motion, and said he had opposed from the first the Board handing its powers over io a committee.

Mr. Maginnity thought that it was highly improper to delcgato such powers to a committee, and more than that there was no statutory power 'or it to do so. Ho thought the innovation an unsafe one.

Tho Chairman said that the arguments advanced did not convince Mm that the Board had made a mistake. The definition of tho word "committee" in the Act meant a "school committee," and did not refer to a committee of the Board. Tho accounts for technical education wore included in the amounts passed by tiso Board. The Technical Committee rocognised that the Board was tho controlling power. Mr. Ea-ston should have proved that the Board's action was against the spirit and letter n i he Act. He would oppose the motion.

In replying, Mr. Easton said tl.:>t the Board in conferring upon the committee the control of the :inancial matters in connection with tttch v(-ul education was ultra vires.

The motion was then put, and lost. Ayes: Messrs Shepherd, Fair, Eastou, and Maginnity. Noes: Messrs Lock, Munson. Beuke, Smith, and the Chairman.