TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 112, 14 May 1931, Page 8

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

UNIFICATION OF CONTROL MINISTER FAVOURS SYSTEM [By Tckgraph—Press Association—Copyright] WELLINGTON, Alay 13. The Technical .Schools’ Association conference opened yesterday. In his address the president, Air H. A. Jones, said from the view of national efficiency, expenditure on edu cation was never more needed than now. It was the duty of the Govern meet to invest for tho future. “There is abroad,” he said, “a spirit of panicky retrenchment, and dangerous sug gestion for the saving of expenditure on education have been made.” A declaration in favour of the complete unification of the education system was made by the Hon. H. Atmore. Minister of Education. He instanced the merging of the technical and sec ondary schools at Napier and Nelson and said it was probable that similar unification would take place in other parts of New Zealand. The Minister said the present 10 per cent, cut in salaries was only tern porary. With a return to better finances a fuller recognition of the value of the services given by teachers to the country would be given. The Wellington branch submitted a remit that the association was formed for professional purposes and should not take action for political ends that were not of an educational nature. The remit was amended and carried by eliminating the word “political.” A remit that the executive be instructed to obtain opinion as to the legality of using the funds of the association for political purposes was defeated. SALARY REDUCTIONS FURTHER REMITS PASSED [Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, May 13. The conference of tho Technical School Teachers’ Association was re* sumed to-day.. In regard to salary reductions, the association declared its agreement upon the following principles: (1) That the budget should be balanced and that teachers are willing to bear their share of the sacrifice. (2) That the necessary additional revenue should be raised by equitable taxation over the whole community. (3) That any legislation passed should operate only for twelve months. A remit was adopted declaring that apprenticeship orders in all trades be amended so that intermediate technological examination bo a qualification for extra pay in the fourth and fifth years. A remit from Christchurch endorsing the principle ‘ ‘ that a teacher who has taught satisfactorily for 20 years be given six months’ leave of absence on full salary for travel purposes,” was carried. The following resolution was carried: “That where technical schools are combined with secondary schools, the principals of the institutions should be men with special knowledge of technical education. ” A protest was made against the decision of the Education Department to appoint student teachers in technical colleges. The conference agreed to a Dunedin remit: “That for the purpose of ♦boosing entrants to the Public Service, the university entrance examination should not bo given precedence over the public service examination. It also adopted a resolution “That the Public Service Department be asked why it continues to hold public service examinations, when during the last few years candidates have not been appointed to the Public Service unless they have passed some higher examination such as university entrance. Air J. R. Brown (Napier), drew attention to the difficulties arising from the transfer of technical pupils to high schools. The following motion was carried on the proposal of Air W. Fraser (Hamilton), seconded by Air T. B. Bowring (Christchurch): “As it is the opinion of this association that where unification of technical and secondary schools has been proposed or effected an increase of technical work should result, and in view of what has taken place in Napier, the Minister should be asked for an assurance that ho will see that technical interests arc adequately safeguarded and are not detrimentally affected either by the submerging of technical work or by the replacement or removal of members of the tech nical staff.”