TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 260, 30 July 1919, Page 9

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE V- BOARD

CONSTITUTION DISCUSSED In the absence of the chairman (Mr. G: Frost) through, ill-health, Mr. T. Ballmger presided at the monthly meeting of the Wellington Technical"Education Board, held last evening. ' There were present:—Messrs. C; Lawrence, H. M. Gore, W. J. Thompson, L; M'Kenzio, f J. Clark, J. J. Wallace, G. L. Stewart, J. E. Fitzgerald, arid L. R. Partridge. The financial statement showed re- „ ccipts amounting to .£Bl6 Os. 2d., and the expenses to £881 Bs. 6t1. ; In connection with the soldiers' education schemo' the . expenditure amounted to .£<SS la. Bd. Tlio debit balance shown undor this heading was £m lGs. 4d. ' Constitution of Board. ;Tho chairman for tho evening raised the question of the proposed reconstitu: ~ tion of the board, which was: proposed to •w reduced by Government .'regulation. He did not know tiie reason for the action of the Government. Ho might lie able to account for it if they- were not • doing good w.|k, but ho maintained.that they were.. Be thought they should do-'' putntioniso the Minister on tho subject. ■Mr.. Clark said that he had raised the point at the last meeting of. the Education Board. He understood that, there . wore in some parts of' the country soma unwieldy bodies -. of from ,21 to 25 members, and it was considered- desirable to reduce the number in such cases*.; He understood' that the proposal was that tho minimum number on a board should bo 15 and the maximum' 19. The Auckland Board was'to liave 19 members. He lifee'd that the Wellington Board should , have at'least 17 members." ' "•' Mv.'Ballinger moved that a deputation wait'upon the' Ministe- in connection with the constitution of the board. , : This was seconded'by Mr. M'Kenzie, who'thought" that- all interests should Do represented on-the board. Mr. f. E. Fitzgerald said that he did not think there should be any limit to the .'.number of members.. At the pre : cent time any body contributing .£lO a year to the school, was,entitled.to representation on the board., If the membership was to be'restricted it was.a direct incentive'for such bodies to cease 6iich contributions. Mr. C. Lawrence 6aid that if the new , constitution was insisted .upon bis bocy (the Architects' Association) would withdraw. He understood that .the new. regulation had beoni; prompted by the discovery by the Minister of some body, of 21 members somewhere in Otago or Southland, where they had' found a .difficulty "in obtaining d quorum. It.-was finally decided'that the members of tho board, form a deputation to »w.ait upon the Minister ..to, discuss the matter -of tho constitution of the board. ~ Proposod Technical School Conference. - ' A letter was received 1 , from the diredtor of tho Christchiiroh Technical College suggesting that as a conference of. asconaary and technical school'representatives was to bo held oarly in 'the session, a conference of technical school representatives only be held at the same time, and tile letter 6et forth certain matters that might we discussed. Mr. L. P. Partridge thought tho idea quite a, good one, and that they should Buppbrt it.,. '' The acting-chairman said that as the conference first montioned . had . fallen through, they could not very well hold fug 'conference suggested. .Mr. Wallace mentioned that .such' ii' . conference might' ye held. \As there were shortly to bo conferences ■■ of education boards and school committees, he did'not think they should find much difficulty in arranging a conference 'of represehtativts of technical colleges. ■' '' It was decided to write to.Christchurcii Technical College asking for further information, at the same time pointing out that' tho proposed secondary and technical schools' conference had . fallen thTougn. .'■' .... '.- ~ '" ; . /.' ' v •■:'• ■■■ An' Accounts Committee'.'- - ' Mr. J. J. Clark inove'd that an Accounts Committee of three (be. set up to supervise the accounts generally. Mr. Wallace seconded the motion. He 1 thought that it was" a business-lilio -way of, doing things. It would relieve the director, and place him beyond the sphere! of criticism as far as the accounts were concerned. Mr. L. R. Partridge said that the'only difficulty would be to get three members' who would'take the trouble to go into the details of every account. ■ At tho same time he thought Mr. Clark's motion was a move in the. right direction. 'Mr. L. M'Kenzio detailed the system ef.-tlie City Council, which did a great deal of its work by.contract Ho also agreed that the motion was a right move. . The acting-chairman said'they had tho services'of ah auditor for a number of years, and had nover had a "tag" attached to their balance-sheets. '■■-■;' Tho acting-director (Mr. Bolton) said that' ho certainly thought' that the director, was asked to do too much work of tho kind mentioned, but he hardly knew what the committed' proposed to do; but if he had to givo explanations and tell tho why and wherefor of every, account that would mean a loss of his time, and that of the members. In' reply," Ufi mover said that, it was not in his mind that tho'committee would go into tho small monthly accounts, but they were shortly moving into a hew building, and there would be a great deal of plant to buy, and he 'suggested that the committee would see that whatever was.bought should be purchased in .the best market. It was a business-like proposal, and he was surprised at the attitude of Messrs., M'Kenzio and Thompson. . Mr. Fitzgerald argued that they could not do better than trust their officers. . His experience on public bodies had convinced him that the best course to take .was to leave tho purchasing of plant to the responsible officer, who could.always be relied upon to make tho best bargain. . lie advised, the board to turn tho motion dt.wn. When tho motion was about to be put, ■ Mr. Fitzgerald raised a point of ordct. Such, a committeo was ■ not in order. It was the-duty of every member to puss tho accounts, not a section of the J board. , .( The acting-chairman mentioned that the Finance Committee met a quarter of an" hour before the board to pass the accounts. He did not see how another committee could act in the matter.. Mr. Clark said that, he would bring tho matter up in another way for discussion at a,later meeting. The acting-chairman supported Mr. Fitzgerald, and refrained from putting the motion to the meeting.

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