TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 6

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

MR. LA TROBE'S RESIGNATION CONGRATULATIONS FOR RETIRING DIRECTOR , Tlio resignation of the director of the Wellington Technical School, Air. AV. S. La Trobe, who has been appointed Superintendent of Technical Education under the Education Department, was considered at a meeting of the Technical Education Board on Saturday night- Mr. G. Frost was in the chair, and there were also present Messrs. A. Atkins, H. M. Gore, AV. H. Bennott, T. Forsyth, and J. J. Clark.

The financial report showed that at the end of 1918 the, monetary assets of the board amounted to .£4200, ns ne;ni"st n't the corresponding date of 1917. This balance had been created since-1904. when the board liad a debit balance "f ,£2OO. There had been a small credit balance each year since 190-1.

. The chairman read.a letter received from Mr. La Trobe resigning his position as director and thanking the members of the board for the coiirtesv and consideration extended t-> him during the last fourteen venrs. H" wished 'o take up his ne-v di'll£s on Febru-arv 1.

Mv. Frost cnnerehilated Mr. ,La Trobe on Hip promotion lie*'iad won/ and said H>at the boarH -would derlor" lii's loss. His nlace wnuld not easily be filled. The board find it nece«arv to .pay a salary a new director than it h;"l naifl to Mr. La Trnhe. who had never pressed his own claims, and bad boen receivine a year lees than tbn director of tlie Auckland Technical School -wae x paid. Mr. La Trobe was going to take un very responsible duties, n."d he would be in a' position in the future to eive a irroat deal.nf Wel'ineten Technical School. Air. Frost, mentioned that the rearing director bad in his own time sketehnlans for AVellington's proposed, new Techuieal School. His services to the board had always been generous and unflagging, and the results lie i-ad attained in the face of "many diOiculHe? had been verv gratifving indeed. The members of the staff associated themselves with the board in a tribute to Mr. La Trobe's splendid work.

The chapman moved that 4he resignation 'should b e r accepted with deep regret as from the end of January.' Mr. Atkins seconded the motion. He said that the.Education Department was lo be congratulated '.on having secured J[r. La Trobe's services. The new Do-' minion Superintendent of Technical Education was a man of great ability, industry, and enthusiasm, and his -work would be of great value to the whole" country in an extended sphere* The best that would be wished for .the AVollington Technical School was" that it. should progress on the lines that Mr. La Trobe had laid down.

Other members of the board also congratulated Mr. La Trobe on the ancointment conferred upon liini by the Educaiion Department, and expressed regret at his retirement. The motion' was adopted. - Mr. La Trobe thanked the members of the board for their-expressions of appreciation. He said that ill- applying for the Government appointment he ligid felt that he would be able to render even greater service to the cause of technical education in AVellington than if he retained his present position. He considered the time was opportune for , a change. . He had been fourteen years in his present position, and that was'quite long enough for any man to stny on one iob: The board could afford to pay a sufficient, salary to get the best mail available as the new director, and the question of payment ought not to stand in the wav. He would strongly advise the board to . pay .a fully adequate salary.

The board went into committee to consider the steps necessarv ; to fill Mr. La Trobe's place. After discussion it was decided to ask the Education Denartment to. leave Mr.'La. Trobe at the Technical College until his successor had been, appointed.