TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13840, 27 February 1909, Page 2

TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Timarii Technical Classes Association was held in the Technical School last night. Mr J. Jackson, chairman of the .Board of Managers, presided over a. very small meeting of subscribers. The ' annual report and balance-sheet, which have already been published, were read and adopted without discussion. The chairman said he was very sorry to sec such a small attendance of subscribers. He would have liked to see the room tilled, for it would have shown that the public took an interest in the classes. It was rather disheartening to the Managers to .see such meagre meetings, and not at all encouraging to the teachers either. The next business was the election of three Managers to represent the subscribers, and Messrs Valentine, Dalglish and Holdgatc were re-elected without opposition.

Mr Howard asked if it was derided to start the engineering, electrical and wool-classing classes this session, and the director (Mr B. Grant) replied in the affirmative.

In answer to a question, Mr Turnbul said the building would be ready for occupation' in about a fortnight's time.

The business of the evening ' con-eluded-with a vote of thanks to the Board of Managers for their work during the past year. A meeting of the Board of Managers was then held. Present—Messrs J. Jackson and Howard . (Education Board). Godfrey (Licensed Victuallers). Preen and Foster (Builders' Association), and Hawkey and Oboru (Borough Council). Mr Jackson, the retiring chairman, vacated the chair, and thanked the Managers for the help and forbearance they had always extended towards him during the time he had been in office. He did not seek re-election, he, was getting an old man now, and he thought it was time for a younger and more energetic man to take over the office of chairman, a mau who would have more time and attention to spare than he had. Mr Grant said though 7vlr Jackson was not as young as he was, yet he had never missed a metting, and had never been la-te to one. Mr Godfrey, after eulogising the work done by Mr Jackson, proposed that he be again elected to the position of chairman. Mr Preen seconded the ' motion, which was unanimously supported and carried, Mr Howard;pointing out' that it was only right that after all the work Mr Jackson had done, he rluruld have the honour of opening- the new rooms. ... Mr Jackson accepted the position, and thanked the meeting for reelecting him. Mr Valentine was re-elected treasurer, and.on the amplication of the director, Messrs Valentine. Dalglish, Howard were appointed as an advisory committee, to confer with the director as to the' drawing up of the prospectus and syllabus, and the appointment, of teachers. Mr Godfrey suggested that a laundry class be added to the,;other classes conducted, and the suggestion was noted, for the purpose of forwarding ; on to the committee.

Mr Howard, referring to the class for teaching Latin, said he was of the opinion it would be a very useful one and might take, the place of the class in elocution. There were a good many young men who wanted to matriculate, who would find the Latin class of great benefit, much more so, in fact than the elecutionarv class. " >' -

Mr Godfrey said he thought it would be a good thing if some prizes and certificates were given to the pupils;as it would be an encouragement to them-. The director pointed out that certificates were, already given, but agreed that the idea of .prize-giving, was a good one if the funds could'be raised, Mr Howard said that if-the public meeting had been a larger ona.be had intended to hring 'up the subject of compulsory attendance, but he . recognised that at the meeting of Managers nothing could be done. ' Mr Godfrey said he did not think the time was ripe for the question of compulsory attendance to be' mooted. The director explained that the idea of compulsory attendance was, he thought, meant to apply more to apprentices learning a trade than to" the general run of the pupils. It seemed rather a hardship, however, that a lad who had been working hard all day should be obliged to spend two or three hours at a night class, though some young men who attended the plumbing classes did not seem to think so, for they used to cycle in from Temuka every night after work, work for three hours, and cycle out again, afterwards. Mr Preen thought compulsory attendance should start with the masters and not with the apprentices. As it was the working man had all the pull, for any of them could set up as masterbuilder without any particular qualifications, but a master-builder if- he wanted to work as a journeyman was barred by the unions.

Mr Howard proposed a vote of thanks to the director and staff of teachers, for ihe energy they had displayed and-the work they had done and the motion was carried. In replying on behalf of the staff and himself Mr' Grant (the director) said that if the classes, had not done as well as they'might in the past, he thought that reproach would be removed in the future. Before they had laboured under disadvantages as to accommodation and apparatus, hut that har to success was now removed and he was confident that with support, the classes would be second to none. The teaching staff they had was of the very best material that could be found and had done its duty with enthusiasm and loyaltv. It had riot'been for the sake of gain, for the pay was not princely, but had been done for the love of the tliiiur. The pie.cting then terminated, with the usual complipient to the chairman.