Seddon College Has Good Year

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 845, 13 December 1929, Page 6

Seddon College Has Good Year

PRIZES DISTRIBUTED EMPLOYERS SEEK PUPILS Excellent results in the past year, and optimism for the future, were revealed in the report presented at the annual prize dis- » tribution of the Seddon Memorial Technical College by the principal, Mr. G. J. Park, last evening. There was a large attendance o£ pupils, parents, and friends, the assembly hall being packed to overflowing. Roll numbers were increasing, and accommodation was becoming overtaxed, said Mr. H. S. W. King, chairman of the board of managers. One of the most important provisions during the year was that of heating apxiaratus, and in future cold would not be a factor against education. Speaking of work in town and country, Mr. King said that what was known as the white-collar occupations were being filled to overflowing. Boys should begin to use post-primary education to become manually dexterous. Many would have to leave town and go on the land. The time was coming when they would be compelled to go to the country, because they would not be able to get a living in the city. He exhorted the pupils -who were leaving school to remember their school, of which they should be proud throughout their lives. Mr. King complimented the staff on the good work which had been accomplished during the year. The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, addressed the children, advising them to look to their future, and see that they were a credit to their school. The principal’s report stated that the year had been a record one in almost all the activities of the school. Both day and evening classes had proved records. Day pupils numbered 1,077, and evening students 1,631, a combined total of 2,708 pupils. In 1922 the total was 1,391, and it would be realised that accommodation had been taxed to such an extent that all classrooms and workshops were continuously occupied during both the day and the evening. Passes in various public examinations in 1928-29 numbered 142, and in addition there were 37 entries for the new technological examinations of the New Zealand Education Department. A day schoolboy of 18 years of age had sat for the four subjects required to complete his accountancy professional examinations, and another day school boy was one of three successful New Zealand candidates chosen by examination to enter the Royal Air Force. This year a full-time gymnastics class had been secured for the boys, and with a well-equipped gymnasium a great deal of interest had been generated. Boxing had been popular, and one boy had won a gold medal for the most scientific boxer at the Auckland Military Sports Association’s tournament. For the girls, cricket, basketball, tenuis, swimming, dramatic work, music, and hobby classes were organised and regularly practised. For the boys, cricket, athletics, Rugby, and Association football and tennis had been practised. Eight football teams and four cricket teams had represented the school. Results had reached a higher standard than ever before. DEMAND FOR PUPILS A feature of this year had been the very strong demand for pupils for positions in industry. No trouble had •been experienced in placing all qualified boys in engineering apprenticeships, while boys from the woodwork courses, and girls from the commercial courses, had been placed in large numbers. The demand from employers for boys for apprenticeship in the woodwork and metalwork trades had been so strong as to encourage the belief that employers were placing a definite money value on the increased skill of technical schools-trained boys, and that bad times in industry were inducing employers to come to the college for their apprentices. There had been created a new problem—that of having no boys at all in the third-year classes at the end of tho year. ‘‘One of the real needs in New Zealand was the reform of our education system, now under discussion for so long,” said Mr. Park. “X believe that an earlier entry to the Technical College would make possible a year’s saving to the pupils, and that such a saving is of the greatest possible importance to pupils entering on apprenticeships at about 16 years of age. I am sure that if parents generally realised the saving of time that would follow reform of our education system, there would be an insistent demand that the change be no longer delayed. If our education system is to tend to give a bias toward industry, and not toward professional pursuits, it is essential that wo provide junior technical schools to feed the Technical College. The need for the best equipment in a col-

lege of our type is obvious. During the past year £3,SOD has been spent in this direction by the board, and although in the past seven years we have done much to equip the college, there is still much to be purchased. It seems reasonable, therefore, to assume that preliminary work should be done in junior schools, where equipment might be less costly.” Prizes were presented by Mrs. Stallworthy, and a concert programme was given by pupils. The prize-list is as follows: Dom. 1A and IC.—Gladys Beguley, 1; Ailsa Mackenzie, 2; Delia Donelan, 3. Dom. IB and ID.—Marion Waters, 1; Merle Hunter, 2: Annie Waters, 3. Dom. IB and IF.—Rosaleen Creagh, 1; Ina Payne, 2; Mary Jenkins, 3. Dom. 2A and 2B.—Nellie Gibson, 1; Jessie Palmer, 2; Jean Shale, 3. Dom. 3.—Joyce Galloway, 1; M. Sunde, ” Com. lA.—Helen Carron, 1; Zena Adams, 2; Grace Beer, 3. Com. IB.—Nora Slaney, 1; Joyce Hill, 2 Claudine Langton, 3. Com. 1C. —Grace Moore, 1; Jean Mackay, 2; Betty McKain, 3. Com. ID.—Joyce Utting, 1; Edna Stanford. 2; Gwen Wakefield, 3. Com. 2 A.—Jean Laking, 1; Phyllis Rigby, 2: Nellie Hodson, 3. Com. 2B. —Audrey Johns, 1: Jean Marsons, 2. Com. 3. —Thelma Clough, 1. Com. 4.—Lionel G. Lovat, 1. Acc. 2.—John P. Crawford, 1. B.T. lA.—Frederick Betham, 1; James Munns, 2: Rex Lenny, 3. B.T. IB.—Trevor Elmsley, 1; Alfi'ed Utting, 2; Cecil Sweet, 3. B.T. 2.—Leonard Harvey, 1; Edward Littler, 2; Allan Jamieson, 3. B.T. 3.—Robert Tonson, 1; Clifton Trounson, 2. Agric. I.—Richard W. Nagle, 1; Thomas S. Ivimpton, 2; Kevin Boland, 3. Agric. 2.—Leslie Gubb, 1. Agric. 3.—Alec Kimpton, 1. Eng, i.—Ernest de Suza, 1; Trevor Robertson, 2; Edmond Grant, 3. Eng, 2.—Louis Durbin, 1; William Pugh, 2; Stanley Freegard, 3. Eng. 3. —Alan Goldsbury, 1; Donald McRobie, 2; William Thompson, 3. W. 1A and IB.—Maxwell Williamson, 1; Donald A. McLeod, 2; Richard A. Collins, °*W. 1C and ID. —Alan Ryan, 1; Stannard A. Wilshere, 2; Robert Sweet, 3. W. 2A and 2B.—John Grimson, 1; Eric McCook, 2: William Croft, 3. W. 3.—Trevor Glanville, 1. Met. 1A and IB. —James Neeley, 1; William Morey, 2; Cecil Milne, 3. Met. 1C and ID.—Vernon Grey, 1; Selwvn Whaley, 2; Arthur Wallbank, 3. Met. 2A and 2B.—Walter Murray, 1; James Fraser, 2; Henry Murray, 3; Varley Pederson, 4. SPECIAL PRIZES Special prize presented by the L. S. Starrett Co., of U.S.A., for Workshop Practice. —Vernon Gray (M. ID). Special prize presented, by Messrs. Browne and Sharpe, U.S.A., for Fitting and Turning.—James Fraser (M. 2A). Special prize presented by Messrs. Moore and Wright, Sheffield, for Fitting and Turning.—V. Pedersen (M. 2B). CUPS Boys’ Senior Athletic Championship (Chairman® Cup).—John Crawford. Boys’ Junior Athletic Championship (Miniature Cup).—Richard Nagle. Girls’ Senior Athletic Championship (Hindley Cup).—Eunice Freeman. Girls’ Junior Athletic Championship (Miniature Cup).—Rachael Bussey. Boys’ Senior Swimming Championship (Burt Cup).—Arthur Francis. Boys’ Junior Swimming Championship (Miniature Cup).—Arthur Kay. Girls’ Senior Swimming Championship (Dearsley Cup).—Dora Russell. Girls’ Junior Swimming Championship (Miniature Cup).—Amy Boughtwood. Girls’ Senior Tennis Championship (Miniature Cup).—Elsa Stokes. House Competitions (Miniature Cups). —(Binns) Boys: George Ross. (Wellesley), Girls: - Eunice Freeman. Gymnastics.—School Championship: James M. Johnston. MEDALS Seddon Memorial Gold Medal, Fitting and Turning.—George Sherwin. Boxing Medal, Most Scientific Boxer. — George Ross. SPECIAL PRIZES (Presented by Past Students’ Association). Best Speech.—Edna Bayliss. Best Essay.—Beryl Cranston. Best Speech.—Louie Durbin.

HAMILTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL INCREASE IN ENROLMENTS From Our Own Correspondent HAMILTON, Thursday. Th© presentation of prizes to pupils of the Hamilton Technical High School was held today. Miv W. H. Paul, chairman of the Board of Managers, presided. The principal, Mi*. W. Fraser, said the enrolment at the beginning of the year had again exceeded expectations. The enrolment of first year pupils in 1928 was 209. This year the total was 227. The roll number on March 1 was 415. Mr. A. E. Manning presented the prizes as follow: First Year.—Girls: Commercial, Beth Johnson; domestic, Ruth Prescott; science, Jean Fraser. Boys: Commercial, W. Martin; engineering, J. Woolford; building trades, W. Glasgow; rural, E. Clement; science, M. Ward. Second Year.—Girls: Commercial, Violet Monfries. Boys: Engineering, T. Gick; coifnnercial, E. L. Jones; rural, W. Beer; building trades, G. Hoult; general proficiency in school work and games, Myrtle Goodwin; general efficiency and school interest, Lorna Street and L. Hill. Special Awards.—Best girl for office wfirk, Jean Major; elocution, Gwen Crowe; dressmaking and millinery, Joy Peach; needlework, Phyllis Gilbert and Ivy Oates; handcraft, Zena Mills; cookery, Netta Haurhton; drill, Isabel Hobbs; best industrial boy, B. McConnell; engineering, L. Finlay and W. Bridgman; dux of school (boy), Cuthbert Hodson; dux (girl), Nona Pollard. Bond Scholarships Commercial, Violet Monfries; engineering, J. W. Woolford; building trades, W. Glasgow. Athletics. —Senior, Marjorie Dowas; junior, Margaret Malcolm and Isabel Morrison; junior tennis, Cecile Clevely; senior tennis, Amy Dempster; junior swimming, Zena Mills; senior athletic cup, A. Young; junior athletic cup, C. McConkey; Herbert Smith Cup, for steeplechase, C. Goosman; junior swimming championship, R. Braggins; senior swimming championship, R. Jones; old girls’ basketball cup, Tokowaru; athletic shield (girls), Aotea; interhouse championship, Sims Shield, Aotea.