TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1919, Page 5

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

4- ' •-., NEW DIHECTOB WELCOMED. Mr. J. H. Howell, the new director of tlio Wellington Trchnical College, was given' a h.earty .weli ome by the dnairman of the board : (Mr. George Frost) at last ■•evening's meeting. Mr. Frost said that illness had prevented Mr. Howell from taking, up bis new duties at an earlier but he was pleased to say that his health waa now gicatly improved. He was su'ro that Mr. Howell would not only have the confidence of every member of the board, but of the public of Wellington. He vras an able man, with a fine record in other centres, and he felt'sure that a 6 his inorit becamo known the number of his pupils will be doubled. The chairman's remarks were endorsed by Messrs. T. Ballj.nger, C. A. Lawrence, G. L. Stewart, W. J. Thompson; L. R. Partridge, L. M'Konzie, and A. A. Wallace. Most of tihs sneakers referred to the manner in which technical education had been handicapped in Wellington chiefly hj the lack of. a suitable school building. . ; Mr. Howell' said that , he was much gratified by tihe cordiality of the welcome that had been accorded him both bv the membei'3 and tho bodies they represented. He was to havo come to Wellington six months ago, and greatly deplored tho disappointment and delay which Iliad occurred owing to his illness. On behalf of himself and his wife he wished to thank the meriibors of the board for 'the kind forbearance they had shown during tho pnst tew months. It had been a great disappointment to him personally that he had not been able to take up the work on his appointment, and he had comc up now with all tiho groater pleasure, hoping to fulfil their expectations. They had aet their hands to a big task—tho biggest task ever attempted by a single educational institution in New Zealand. Tho people of Wellington must be made to feel that iflio college was their oollege, and they should be proud of it. .Ho was confident that as conditions improved the college would improve." Ho looked forward to the time when the Wellington Technical College would bo the largest' educational .college in New Zealand, and had_ no doubt that his hope would be realised. Tho conditions were favourable for such an issue. Here everything was weldeiT together'under one boardart classes and engineering were controlled by the boct'd, which was tho case in no other centro. in Now. Zealand. That was a tremendous advantage, and would greatly add to tho efficiency of the work.