HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1381, 6 March 1912, Page 8

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(From Car Boeciil OorreenoudenU TECHNICAL SCHOOL MANAGERS. The monthly meeting of the managers of tho Petone Technical School was held last evening, and was attended by the Rev. A. Thomson (chairman), and Messrs. M'Ewan, Castle, Roots, M'Kenzie, List, and Hope. In view of the establishment of a rural course in the Petone District High School, the Education Board wrofo asking the managers if they would grant that portion of land adjacent lo tho Technical School for garden plots, and further, that it would be necessary to establish a laboratory in the Technical School. The chairman said that, to his mind, the Education Board should show some evidence that business was meant. They had started this course- when they were not prepared. Ho would point out that the ground asked for was given for technical education by the Petone Borough Council. It would be folly to allow the board to imagine that they had granted the hbo of this ground for a rural course. Mr. M'Ewan. said that if pupils were already using this ground, why this application ? The director explained that only two pupils wero using the grtund at present. Mr. M'Kenzie said that the chairman had opposed this rural course all along. • Tho chairman: I object to this. Continuing, Mr. M'lvenzio said that tho rural course had been established for over a year, and was going on nicely. The chairman: Wo are not going to have a discussion on this question; it is simply Sir. M'Kenzie's opinion against mine.

Mr. M'Kenzie: I rise to a point of order. Wo are discussing the letter. Mr. Castle could seo no reason ivliy the land should not bo offered for use. Ho would move that the request be granted (luring tho board's pleasure. Mr. List said that he would support the motion, but at the same time he was surprised that the chairman should discourage this rural course. Tho chairman (heatedly): I will not allow you to make a statement like that. You are quite out of order, sir. Mr. List: You can't cry mo down. You be careful what you say. The chairman: Gentlemen! Is ho to be allowed to carry on like this?

Mr. Ewan said that ho would like to see a plan submitted of what was proposed to be done. The motion was carried.

lii regard to the removing of the pupils of tho High School to house them in the Technical School, Mr. Hope moved that.this should be done, provided that the Education Board first submitted plans of the alterations and additions proposed by them. In speaking to the motion Mr. M'Ewen said that tho Education Board was responsible for education in Petone, and this board could only deal with the application. "They ehoiild know their business," he added, "arid we should know ours." This motion was also carried. Tho director reported that most of the classes were in working or,der, and there were more pupils now than had been on the roll last year, particularly in tho electricity class, whore moro apparatus was, necessary. Some of the pupils in the woodwork class wore senior cadets, and their drill might clash with school work. This, however, only affected four of tho pupils.