TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Southland Times, Issue 21096, 30 May 1930, Page 5

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

MEETING OF BOARD. SUCCESS OF PLUMBING STUDENTS. The monthly meeting of the Southland Technical College Board was held last night when Mr J. H. Reed presided over the following members: Messrs A. W, Jones, W. G. Tait, W. Grieve, A. J. Service, A. J. Ball, W. Alsweiler, W. >C. Denham, F. G. Hall-Jones,’ A, le H. Hoyles and W. Carswell. The director, Mr C. A. Stewart, was also present, Leave of absence for 1931 was granted to Messrs G. Hill and P. Kania in order that they might proceed to England to gain varied experience. The report of the Principal for the present month was as follows: The school (day and evening classes) reopened on Monday of this week after the fortnight’s vacation. There is nothing of special note to report in regard to day school numbers.. The dropping away of pupils to employment is at about the normal slow rate, but a few have had to be removed on account of the difficult times financially. In the evening school we are enrolling a fair number of new students, mainly in trades classes. Some of the classes in general subjects still remain disappointingly low, a surprising fact considering the number of young people in town who should be completing preparation for public examinations, especially University Entrance. We are looking forward with eagerness to the completion of our domestic science wing. The standard of w’ork in this department and the reputation enjoyed throughout the province have always been exceptionally high; our number of domestic pupils has generally been in excess of that in the larger centres. There can be no doubt that by the end of this year we shall have as complete and well appointed a domestic science block as any in the Dominion, with greatly increased facilities for studying the sciences related to cooking and the home generally, and with ideal laundry arrangements. The ventilation, heating, lighting, and furnishing should also make the whole environment pleasant and refined. I consider that dur most urgent need now is a well thought out scheme for workshop extension on both engineering and woodwork sides. This becomes increasingly necessary with growing numbers (both day and evening) and with the need for newer equipment to meet changing conditions. At present it would be impossible to introduce such new equipment without scrapping some machines now in profitable use. Another work that should be put in hand early is the planting of shrubs in the sections facing Forth street. The grass is now well established, and a simple scheme may be worked out for planting the small areas not required for games purposes.

The secretary of the Plumbers’ Apprenticeship Committee wrote conveying the congratulations of the committee on the success of the students in the plumbers’ registration examination held last November.

Mr Stewart mentioifed that the Southland students of the college, with 43 pcr cent., had come second in New Zealand in the percentage of passes in the written section of the examination, while in the practical section Southland headed the list with 70 per cent., seven obtaining passes out of ten presented. Whangarei with 60 per cent, came next in order.

Members of the board expressed appreciation of the meritorious results and it was decided to formally congratulate the instructor, Mr W. Gellatly, on the excellent tuition given by him to his pupils. ' Mr Grieve reported that a large number of garage proprietors and foremen visited both the practical engineering and electrical classes during the month and expressed themselves as highly surprised at the general excellence of the work being provided for the boys. Both Messrs T. J. Cushen (practical engineering instructor) and F. Shaw (electrical instructor) were- giving the pupils most instructive practical lessons in their respective subjects. The visitors were somewhat surprised at the small number of pupils and subsequent inquiries elicited the fact that the garage proprietors were not sending all their apprentices along. Mr Grieve remarked that all recognized from their visit that the Technical College was ’doing its best for the trade classes. The chairman and Mr Sendee were appointed a visiting committee for June.