TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 53, 25 May 1927, Page 13

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

MEETING OF BOARD REDUCTION OF QUORUM The meeting- of the Board of Governors of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, which lapsed last week for want of a quorum, and was adjourned, was held this morning. The chairman, Mr. H. S. W. King, presided over an attendance of seven members out of a total of 12. The minutes of a meeting held previously, although no quorum was present. were confirmed. The report of the Appointments Committee stated that 40 applications had been received for the position of instructress in dressmaking. Two highly-qualified teachers in Australia had made inquiries for the vacancy, but as the salary offered by the Edu • cation Department was considerably lower than the figure received by each in her present employment, the matter could proceed no further. “It we cannot avail ourselves’' of the services of better qualified teachers unless the Education Department can offer a more adequate salary,” remarked Mr. King. “It is a very unbusinesslike way of conducting the matters of education.” said Mr. Furness. “I think the board should protest strongly against the poor salaries offered by the department. The scale in this country is considerably lower than that of Australia.” On the motion of the chairman it was resolved to forward a vigorous letter of protest to the department, in this connection. After some discussion it was decided to recommend to the department that Mrs. M. A. Boocock, who has had three years’ experience at Kowhai School, be appointed teacher of dressmaking to the college. Messrs McPhail and Watts dissented on the grounds of the applicant being a married woman. The chairman again brought up the question of the reduction of the quorum which at present required the attendance of seven members. This number is in excess of the requirements of the Act, which allows three. Mr. Watts observed that it might be dangerous to allow three members to transact the business of the board, which might be upset by a majority at a subsequent meeting. “I think one more than half is a fair number,” said Mr. King. “I will give notice of motion that the quorum be made to comply with the terms of the Act.”