TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 574, 31 July 1909, Page 6

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

WOOL-GLABSING. THE JOHN ;STIUCKT SITE. Tim monthly meeting of tho'•■Wellington Technical Education ItoiCrd wan hold lost evening, llicj-o l>oing present:—-Mr. J. P. Imlco, M.J.*.'- (chairman), and Messrs. J. G. W. Aitltwi, T. Carniichaol, T. Balhngcr, D. M'Lnxcn, M..1'.,"1); Robertson, \V. Hi tfield, M.J.'., ami Willmin Allan. The statement of tho month's.finances showed a debit balanoo of £'M h.i M., afl against, a debit balance of £177 2fj, 3d. for the corresponding month of tho previous year. Tim .chairman, raforring. to the ilcbit for tho month, pointed out that prospective receipts which we're duo''Bho'rtly would ' oa-se' the finances very considerably. ■• • ■ ■ ' ■'■ A letter .was received from Mr. S. Wood, of Olive,. Hnwko'n Bay, in which the writer offered tentative proposals for the establishment of a class for wool-classing in connection with tho 1 Technical' School. It was" stated that tho largo store at Messrs. Levin and Co.'a premises trould/bo available for the purboaes of tho class.' It was decided that Mr. Bowden bo asked, for details as to salary r^

quired and estimated cost of carrying on tie work,/with a "view' .to giving "definite aiderationof the question, for, next year'.';'.. • Commenting on the need' for better instruction in wool-classing;- Mr. Field asserted that' thousands of pounds were lost to-the country' every year defects in. methods of wool-classing. '' The Director (Mr. - ported that an exhibition 1 of; art' class'work had "been arranged .'for display in Beadnall's window, at the corner of,'Morcer 'and Willis' Streets, -i' \

Sir.' Field' stid '■ that 1 it 1 was) an' excellent idea. .The .studies 'exhibited' had ;b'een'.much admired. ' • '' v ' ( 11.I 1 . ';. Mr. Robertson tboughtthat in v'i6w, : of v r&i cent criticisms as to the lack .of .art' teaching in Wellington; some ' prominence should be given to the fact . that art teaching" was being carefully fostered at the school. Irregular.' attendances at the classes were stated to be the ; reason of !the number .of "failures" in 1 the recent plumbing tion. ,' f-. ',!' !.'■':'

'Mr. Ballinger expressed' his opinion; that, the proportion of unsuccessful candidates revealed an'alarming state',of affairs. ,'. '. : ■ After' some'; discussion 'tho board- decided that .in. order to. get, ! ihto,- closer' touchwith, tie irregular' attonders .tho Director" communicate with' the- parents on 1 the 'matter, and, at ( tbe samo time: take-£teps to.acquaint the -pupils themselves ;of' the necessity for regular attendance at the' classes^.if they wished- to' • derive', material" benefit!'fitim"'the instruction afforded. "1;; : r

. . Some; discussion arose with regard -to l , the site in JoKii Street ..for .tie. new- technical school.. At present nothing definite has been done in the .direction of 'securing.'the. Bite'to the board, either by lease .or,fee.;siinple. It ivas. pointed out- that .when the time came for an . application to be. made-to, the Government for, a building grant some obstacle would- bo .raised 'with 'respect- to tho tenure 'of: tho land. The present workshops site .in Mercer-Street was held on lease' from' the' City Council, on a nominal rental,of',,ls.; per' annuin; which arrangement represented the-falrthes't;.the City . Council of that' day could' 'go "without/having recourse.to■' speciallegislation,i'"'' : Under a! regulation of: the Education Department the Government , building; .'grant''bccame' a first charge_on the proceeds; of: the 'realisation.of. tho buildmgs in itie'erent of their disposal. '• -Tho ■ chairman-, suggested ii 'deputation; -to -.the- 1 Minister: for.': Eduction..'(the,; Hon. .' G. Fowlds) regarding tho; questi6n\of • a,. building grant*. V-'.v Mr. Robertson-'w.ae',rather:,dubious, about the,prospect's of,'tKe deputation." '/'l.was'ono. of a deputation 1 after .-'money,- spnje tiipe backj"' no saia;' "and the Minister;'looked-as if ho would hitve. liked to kick us down the stairs." ' ' ■'' ; " '• ■, '.. .../•

It was finally decided that, tie,board as a whole form a deputation to ', interview \ the Mayor..(Dr.-Newman);'With regard'to.thejset'tlement'of the /tenure., of.'ttio : John. I .'Street site; after which ■ consideration' will be given to the question of intefviewing;.tho, Minister for'Educatioh." ' ';' ''■':' ;,, '''. : .';.'" 'i '.. Tho Electrical Workers'; Board- of' Control "wrote stating that,' Mr. H^.'A.'Smith .'had. been appointed to succeed : Mr/:!W.jS, King, who .had resigned'his seat/ .:';•'.; ';,.,-, '. .It was-decided to; insure all membore of the teaching staff whoso salaries'were under £260 per annum, and a ■' sub-committee was appointed to go .into., the question' of insuring the higher-salaried members 'oiy tho,staff. ' i Oh; the; motion of Mr.: % : Carmichael, :the Director was 'instructed -to prepare: a' report on.;,tlio...disposal ; of i 'tho waste 'material, from, the trades classes.- .'• ■■.'•'' ',:' ~'..■. ~'