A PRESSING QUESTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 6

A PRESSING QUESTION.

TECHNICAL SCHOOL TOO SMALL.

Discussing at Die noting of the Wellington Technical School Board, Inst evening, the pressing question of providing increased accommodation, the director (Mr. W. S. Li Trobo) said that tho increasing diversity of work done by the students, the large' numbers attending in ninny of the classes, and tho increasing stock of apparatus and class equipment, all required that more rcom should bo provided. The real needs of the school could not be met with by any temporary accommodation arrangement. Evidence went to illustrate that tho school would increase very 'largely in usefulness if a satisfactory home were found for it. It was necessary at once for the boa v rd to find at least three class-rooms and laboratories. Owing to the lack of accommodation, tho director had found it necessary to refuse entries in some classes. The board room was filled with a full set of instruments for the teaching of practical mechanics. These instruments are required for some 100 students in tho day, and evening, classes, but the director had nowhere to put it. The school had the classes, the teachers, and tho apparatus, but no laboratory room to put it in. The greatest difficulty at present existed in accommodating both day and evening classes, resulting in discomfort for both teachers and students. Mr. La Trobe, said he had received an offer from the V.M.C.A. in regard to a room, at a rental of <£200 per annum, and the advantages of it were numerous, though a considerable expenditure would be involved in getting the room in ordor for the purpose. In regard to this offer, Mr. J. P. Luke urged that tho matter be . left in the hands of the chairman (Mr. D. Robertson), and Messrs. J. Smith and La Trobe. As soon as the political trouble subsided he thought that it would be best to go and interview the Minister for Education on the matter. The work at the Technical School justified any expenditure that had been mado on it. Mr. W. H. Field foresaw no difficulty l in getting Hie'required £200 from ' the Government. Tho report was adopted.