FEILDING TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9370, 12 February 1909, Page 5

FEILDING TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

The annual meeting of householders was held last night. There were ten present, including one school teacher. Mr B. Goodbehere was voted to the chair. The Committee in reviewing the work of the past year, stated it had been of a very satisfactory character. The woodwork class was commenced with one pupil, and at the end of the session there were twelve. The plumbing class also did well and the work done was .equal to that of any similar class in the Dominion. The painting class also increased from 4 to 12 during the session, and the work done was of an improving character. About 300 people had visited the exhibition of woodwork, and 472 had attended the various classes in the district. The balance-sheet presented showed the expenditure on the bnilding to have been £2968 3s 9d ; on furniture, fittings and apparatus £lOlB 15a 2d, making a total of £3987 18s lid, there being still a debtor balance of £2BB 15s. The statement of expenditure of management during the year showed the cost to have been £599 9s 6d, and the receipts £175 12s 2d less than that amount thus showing a loss equal to this sum. The total debt therefore is £459 7s 2d. There were only two balance-sheets of country classes read, namely, that of Halcombe, which showed a loss of £5 8s Bd, and that of Apiti a loss of £ls 17s lOd. The Chairman, commenting on the balance-sheets said during the first term there had been a considerable loss on most of the classes. During the second term most of the classes had paid aud he anticipated a furtcer improvement during the next term. Unfortunately a sum of abont £75 received by way of donations had to be credited "to the building fund, otherwise with the subsidy on the £75 the working account would have nearly balanced. It would be necessary to clear off that building debt, then he believed the school would pay its way. The thanks of the Committee were due to the local bodies and private donors to the building aud management funds. The weakness of the school was largely due to the small number of pupils at Feilding. At Ashhurst, with so.much less population, the classes were as nnmeronsly’attended. Mr Goodbehere proposed the adoption of the. report and balance-sheets. Mr Oarty, in an optimistic address on the future of the school, advocated requesting the local bodies for financial assistance, especially that of the Orona County. Mr Pirani said only the Feilding District Technical School was not paying in the Wanganui Board District, aud tiie Feilding should pay if worked capably. Even now several of the country classes were paying. The Board would look to the Director and Committee to make it pay, and in regard to the debt on the bnilding, that- need not affect the working of the school. He "had received a promise of £25 towards the buildirfg fund which with the subsidy would mean a reduction of £SO on the debt. The motion was adopted. Messrs Oobbe, Lochhoad, Bndd and Montgomery were elected for the householders, and Mr Oarty to represent private contributors on the Committee. Mr Braik, School Inspector, then addressed the meeting, in which he gave advice on the methods that might be adopted to increase the number of pupils. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mm outgoing Committee. A meeting of members was held subsequently, when the syllabus of subjects w:r: oor:s!der:d. and rp I proved.