MORE ROOM NEEDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 281, 17 February 1928, Page 16

MORE ROOM NEEDED

TECHNICAL COLLEGE GROWTH ENROLMENTS REFUSED The rapid growth of technical education in Auckland in recent years was referred to yesterday by the principal of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, Mr. G. J. Park, at a meeting of the college board of managers. He reported that when the school reopened this year it was found necessary to refuse applications for enrolment which arrived late. This was particularly the case with girls. In the commercial course the demand was exceptionally heavy. It appeared that it would . soon be necessary to make representations to the Education Department for provision of, buildings for a specialised school, either for commercial or for domestic science instruction. /He had recommended thi.« before and did not receive the support of the department, but he was convinced that as thte city grew there must be greater specialisation in the vocational courses offered to postprimary pupils. It would not be difficult to remove all the pupils in the commercial class to a separate department, conducted in the old Normal School in Wellesley Street, and to continue there until the enrolments justified the Government erecting a special school on its own grounds. Mr. Park prepared an interesting table, which he included in his report, detailing the growth of the college departments since 1922:

The report was received and referred to the executive committee, with power to act. Appreciation of the principal’s administration and the -work of the staff was recorded, on the motiop of Miss B. Carnachan.

Course. 1922. 1927. Commercial 231 Domestic . . . . . . Business training .. 57 Technological .. .. . . 246 Engineering . . .. 97 3 05 Metalwork . . .. 154 Woodwork 131 Agriculture 59 41 34