PETONE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 143, 12 March 1919, Page 8

PETONE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

The monthly meeting of the managers of the Petono Technical School was held last evening. There were present:Messrs. J. G. Castle (chairman), Cox, M'Ewen, Cavanagh, White, Corner, HoWb, M'Dougall, Welch. .The director, Mr. J. H. Lynskey, reported that the sub-committee appointed .by the managers to go into the matter of the steam class met on February 18, and after carefully considering the matter it was thought that the number of pupils offering (six in all) was not sufficient to begin a class with. The difficulty was not only in regard to the number but also with regard to the different stage 3 tha pupils were in. They thought it would be better if these pupils attended the Wellington Technical 'College for this particular subject. Free railway tickets would be obtainable, and .the students would really be better off. The Wellington Technical College, regarding Petone as a more suitable ceni tie for wool-olassing, acted in the same way as Hie managers suggest with regard to the eteam subject. The finances of tha school were still in a very unsatisfactory state, and it seemed to him that tho attention of the Government should be drawn to this matter. Paying pupils were becoming fewer and fewer, and this nvust of necessity go on as time advanced. In the wool class thoy are getting practically filled up with returned soldiers, and they have all proved excellent students. The Government, however, did not allow sufficient capitation even to pay the instructor, let alone lighting, -jnsuraneeij caretaker, cartage, and expenses of general management. Tho school had in the past, and he trusted would in the future, been generously, treated by various donations, but as the scop.o of the school increased salaries of necessity became nn item, and he thought that they should see that an adequate grant was made by the Department so that tho school could meet current expenses. If the school was going to be handicapped for tho sake of a little .extra grant, education was not going to advance.

Mr. QPEiren said that tie' director was evidently looking ahead in placing the statement before the managers, and unless greater assistance was given!by the Department they would not lie able to carry on. Fees from the student? appeared to have fallen away and expenses had inoreased. The chairman stated that the greatest difficulty -was in getting the Government to square up accounts. There was still capitation outstanding from 1917. On the motion of Mr. MTUwen, it was decided to write to the Director of Bdmcation pointing out the financial position of the school and asking tlwt the arrears of capitation be paid. Tho director also pointed out the position in regard to thw wool class, which Tras_ composed principally of rotnrned soldiers. In that class. 12 students would earn Us. a night capitation, and tho instructor was paid Us. Bd. It was decided in view of the director's statement that a letter be- sent to the Repatriation Department- asking for a grant to assist in carrying on the tuition in wool-ciassing. Tho statement of accounts disclosed the fact that the school liad, for the first time since its inception, a debit balance of £S. i