CONFERENCE OF TECHNICAL DIRECTORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1919, Page 8

CONFERENCE OF TECHNICAL DIRECTORS.

COMPULSORY CONTINUATION ' . CLASSES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept., 11. At the conference of directors and reoresentatives of governing bodies of techaical Colleges the question of daytime continuation classes was brought up by Mr. Q..George- (Auckland), wji^,.moved : u 'f hat the Government be urged to make compulsory continuation classes-, during working hours for all boys and girls up to the age of 18 years." j The opinion was' expressed that em- \ plovers would raise objections - to the | proposals! but it was thought that employers would ultimately realise that i the scheme would result in an _all-round j benefit. The motion was carried unanimously. ' Considerable discussion took' place on i the question ofj tnejconstitutionfof boards of governmentjlittnting them to 19 mem-1 b*rs and a chairman. Mr. 'Opie con-i sidered that tbjs was unsatisfactory, and i several other members also criticised the j constitution. It was unanimously! agreed: "That the recent, amendment. t>» i the constitution boards of givelliors j is unsatisfactory." .'. - FURTHER RESOLUTIONS. ; ' Wellington, Last Night. The conference. of members-of boards j and directors of Technical Collegp; '.lc-: cided to rebommend - that ' te.chaical j schools should be granted separate repre-1 sentation on the Council of Education,; and that the technical whoo*. boards j have a voice in electing representatives | on the university councils -oi their dis-1 districts: # i Remits were adopte'l ;; dressing the | desirableness of some definite systein of! payments whereby boards would be able to finance salaries and the general work- j ing expenses without depending upon j donations.' Among the remits passed were the fol- j lowing: That the standing of Education Boards as controlling authorities should: be abolished in case of technical institutions, incorporating technical and high schools; that it is essential _an aggressive policy in regard to agrjcqMjural education should be developed; that the present inadequate finance of technical Mgh schoolSfprevents this in our schools, and. that'the Minister of Agriculture be 'urged tt» ptty technical colleges for each technical high school boy taking a recogniied 'agricultural course, a' capitation equal to half that paid by the Education Department and additional to it. 'ijt'was (JecHed that"'the conference should be held annually.