TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN PUKEKOHE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 173, 12 May 1916, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN PUKEKOHE.

Supervisor's Methods Criticised. The Pukekohe School Committee and the Supervisor ot Technical Education, Mr J P Kalaugher, aie at variance over mattei9 concerned with Technical Education in Pukekobe. Last year the then existing Advisory Beard asked the School Committee to take over their duiits but (h» Committee ba9 not since been in any way consulted by the Supervisor. At a meeting ot the febcoi Committee held on Thursday of last week t e Supervisor attended and refused to recognise any "locus staudi" on ihe part of the Committee. Some heated talk was indulged in and during the procedings two members of .tbe Committee, Messrs C K Lawns and H G Lysnar, indgnantly left the meeting, claiming that it was useless to attempt to argue with the Supervisor, failing acquiescence by the Supervisor with the Committee's wishes, it is understood that an appeal is to be made to the Education Board

in addition to Mr Kalaugher, Mr C Roadely (appointed by the Supervisor as local Superintendent) was also present at last week's meeting Mr Kalaugher, on being invited by tte chairman to spfak, said he had not been aware sine? bis appointment as Supervisor until a few weeks ago that an Advisory Board was in existence in Pukekohe, but te had to i r form tbe Committee that he cuuld not recognise it as .the Advisory Board, which bo far as he was concerned was non-existent He added that last July the Auckland Education Board had laid down ruhs governing the constitution of such Boards or Committees, which stated that they should be composed of three members of the School Committee and a representative of all contributing local bodies. He proceeded to state that tbe Education Board were very disappointed with the condition of the classes in Pukekohe and the lack ct support, and that tbe Board had been involved in the loss ot a considerable Bim of money. However, the Board was very ar-xibus that tbe claeses should be successfully carried on and were still prepared to sink a little morey in doing so, but it desired that lecal interest should be aroused and an effort made to render them'a success. To that end he asked the School Committee to appoint three members to an Advisory Committee. He then stated that be bad a list of namrs of boys and girls who ougbt. to be in attendance and be was prepared to prosecute offenders if the Committee wished bim to do so

Mr Lysrar: No, no. There should be no complusion in the case of git Is

Mr Kalaugber: I have recomminded to the Board that in country districts compulsion should only apply to boys Mr Koadley said he had been gecretary to the original Advisory Board and when in resDonsa to the r.queßt of a deputation from that Boird the Schcol Committee undertook to carry on the work he was re-appointed. It was the duty ot the gecretary of the School Committee for the tin.e being to have advised Auckland of the change and not for him. He had not had any communication to make and hence he bid not revealed the fact of a ciange. He then preceded to explain the circumstanc s of hia appointment as Superintendent Mr Pilkington, secretary, said he could not say whether the previous secretary bad ad«ieel Aucklind of the change or not, but nevertheless 8 most unsatisfactory position had amen. He detailed the constitution of the original Board, which was practically identical with that de cidad upon by the Education Board in July last, and the reasons advanced by the Advisory Board when requesting the Committee to undertake the duties, The School Committee, he said, took charge of the work on June 7th last, appointed the rccesßary officers and gave instructions tbat the Supervisor be informed. He was of the opinion, even allowing tot the possible failure of (the secretary to inform the Supervisor, that (subsequent correspondence and reports ought to have made the position plaiu to ' hiui. As a member of the old Board be did not feel prepared to accept tho position. They were informed that night for the brat time tbat tbey did not exist afe an Advisory Board, and be could not consent to the present Board being thus brushed ande. Tbey there as repiesentatives of the people, and as such intended to do their duty. Tbey were interested in the plasses, and were prepared to work hand in band with the Supervisor, but they must retain the right to appoint or at any rate to advise on the matter of the appointment of all local oliicers.

Mr Kalaugher said he could not agree to that. The scheme he had outlined was that in operation in all other centres under his charge. A good many questions were asked by the members of the Committee, particularly in reference to the events of the past few months, and at times tho discussion became somewhat "strenuous."

The Supervisor appealed for attention to the future, but the stipulation as to the right of appointment of local officers not being conceded no progress was made, and at this stage Messrs C. K. Lawrie and H. G. Lysnar left the room with the remark that "We can't get any nearer."

Ultimately the matter was left in the hands of a small sub-committee to deal with.