TACHNICAL COLLEGE BOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19156, 12 April 1932, Page 11

TACHNICAL COLLEGE BOARD

MEETING OP MANAGERS. The Board of Governors of the Technical College met last night, the chairman (Mr A. Stead) presiding over the following members: Messrs J. W. Preen, J. Palliser, E. W. Jones, G. D. Selbie, A. Washer, W. E. Tubb, J. G. Gow and W. I. Tait. Principal’s Report.. The principal (Mr F. L. N. Tuck) reported that the attendance through the month had been good, the average being 04.2 per cent. Changes in examinations. to which reference was recentlv made by the Hon. Minister of Education were likely to take place this year. It. was proposed to require all candidates for senior free places to sit at the intermediate examination next November. With the abolition of the Public Service entrance examination, he was awaiting particulars of the new school certificate examination to replace ir. A wide series of options was a very important consideration for teahn’eal school pupils, who had in the past- found the Public Service entrance examination a very suitable aim. An

arly Easter marked the termination of Ihe swimming season. The chief" efforts of the staff in connection with swimming instruction had been concentrated on learners. While about the same number of boys as last year had qualified for the distance certificates awarded by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, fewer girls have done so. One round of matches in the boys’ house cricket (senior and junior) had been completed. A second round was to be played at the end of the year. The fact that one of the boys was selected to represent South Canterbury in senior cricket on three occasions and that another played for the third grade representative team, indicated a pleasing improvement in the standard of play. One girl and one boy had achieved a measure of success at; the South Canterbury junior tennis •championship meeting. The prospects for the football and basketball season were bright. A fifth-grade football team and two basketball teams were to be entered in the Saturday competitions. Evening classes had proceeded smoothly and had been well attended. Unfortunately, enrolments had not justified all the classes planned, the following having been discontinued until a greater demand was assured: — Electric wiring, architectural drawing, wool classing and matriculation history, geography and French. The ticketwriting class was again this year one cf the largest. • Owing to a family bereavement, Mr McLintock had been away for three days. The College had been visited by Mr W. S. La Trobe, M.A.. Superintendent of Technical Instruction, who was especially interested in the improvements made in the grounds and buildings. A party of sixteen members of the Labour Representation Committee had visited the College and evinced great interest in the School's work. The report was adopted. Protest Against Economies. The Director of Education advised that the Board's protest against the Economy Commission’s proposal to withdraw facilities for railway travel for post primary students had been noted and would receive the Department's consideration. The President of the New Zealand Technical Education Association forwarded a telegram urging the Board to emphatically oppose through its Member, any proposed interference with post primary education. Describing the proposed curtailments in the educational service as “too drastic even under the present financial conditions of the country,” the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association forwarded a lengthy circular containing the opinion of its executive on the Economy Commission’s report.—The letter asked the Board’s sympathetic consideration of the Association’s recommendations. Referring to the recommendations received concerning the Economy Commission’s report, Mr Preen stated that all the institutions who had forwarded circulars were working for the betterment of education, and he moved that the Board give its whole-hearted support to the protests. The motion was seconded by Mr Palliser and earned. General. Mr Preen reported that Mr B. SethSmith, of Christchurch, had agreed to act as the Board’s representative on the Standing Committee on Education. Mr Preen explained that Mr SethSmith would act only in the event of Mr Gow or the speaker being unable to be present. Accounts amounting to £95 were passed for payment. A motion of thanks to Mr R. D. Midgley for a donation of three fleeces to the wool class was carried unanimously. Appreciation of the Board’s courtesy and consideration during its camp meeting was received from the Congregational Church Bible Class. Mr Selbie reported having visited the School and congratulated the principal on the high standard of the work and the respect shown by the puplis. Mr Selbie'was thanked for his report. It was decided to invite the Rev. P. G. Hughes, to address the pupils at the School’s Anzac service on April 22nd.