WHAT AILED THE PLUMBERS?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 4

WHAT AILED THE PLUMBERS?

PLEASURE OR BOY SCOOTING-? At the meeting of the new. Technical School Board, held last evening, under the presidency "of Mr. Tlios. Ballinger, ithe directors' report on the examination for plumbers, held in July, stated that out of 21 candidates in the practical section only 4 had passed; while only 10 out of 24 had passed in theory. The examiners considered that tho candidates were not up to. tie usual standard in theory, and that they/ were, considerably below the standard m practice, contrasting very unfavourably in both respects with those .who had presented themselves for examination last November. The standards exacted in tho eJiaminations were only difficult for inexperienced boys just out of their apprenticeship, and it was evident that , the boys did not get enough practice !in lead work. ' ■, Mr. Aitken asked was thero anything- to account for tho largo number of failures' amongst the candidates The chairman pointed out that a few 'years ago older men wore going in for the examination on account of the new by-laws, but the present-day candidates were chiefly young men , anxious to get high wages,- as under tho award tbey were entitled to a. penny a day moro when, the.T got a certificate. ■ , Mr. Aitken: You think it is the eagerness of the candidate that is at fault? • The-chairman: To got highor wages; but for- only four to get through out of 21 in practical \vork ( seems an undue proportion of failures. Tho director stated, in answer to a question, that- tho ages of ths successful candidates were 22, 29, and 22 years. ' Mr, Luke observed' that four passes were out of all proportion to tho number engaged in., the industry. The chairman attributed tho failures to want of attendance at the school and the love of;pleasure amongst tho boys. It might t>o that the Boy Scout movement had something to do with it. . On Mr. Aitken's suggestion, a subcommittee, consisting of tho chairman, Messrs. Carmichael, and M'Laren, was set up to go into tho matter with the director, and report-to next meeting. ,