NEW TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8446, 23 May 1907, Page 5

NEW TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR MASTERTON.

PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting was held in th< Masterton Borough Council Cham bers, last evening, to discuss the pro ject of erecting a new Technical School building in Masterton. Th« Mayor, Mr J. M. Coradine, presided, and there were over , twentj others present, including representatives from the Borough Council, Technical School Managers, Trust Lands Trust, Chamber of Commerce, I School Committee, Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.K., and Mr M. C. O'Connell, representative of the Seddon Memorial Committee. An apology for absence was received from Rev. A. T. Thompson. The Chairman, in referring to the object for which the meeting had been called, stated that tfie present school had a large number of pupils, and they were very cramped for room. Various schemes had been proposed for the erection of a new building, but they had all fallen through for some reason. The Technical School Managers had been labouring £ A i_ ■/•_. J_i._ _ __l

for years past to formulate a scheme which would gain the approval of the citizens of Masterton. There could be no worthier object than the erection of a Technical School to the memory of the late Hon. R. J. Seddon, and the public should give their support to the proposal. Masterton had the facilities for a good Technical School, and he thought it should stand forth as the best established town in New Zealand for educational purposes. The Trust Lands Trust was responsible for the good position held by Masterton in educational matters, as both the Public School and the Technical School always had the Trust at their backs. The speaker took occasion to thank the Trustees for the assistance rendered to the Managers of the Technical School. The school embraced all , classes of technical work, but the Managers were severely hampered through not having a suitable building in which to carry out the Mo:k. The Masterton Technical School had sent out pupilsworthy of any institution in the world. He considered that they should aim at 'collecting £I,OOO locally. In his opinion they would have no difficulty in at least getting very near that amount. The advantages of the site in front of the old Salvation Army Barracks in Dixon Street were numerous. There was, in Mr Coradine's opinion, no worthier object than that of endeavouring to make good'citizens out of the youths of the community. The school must either progress or go back, and there were no facilities for extending the work at present. He informed the meeting that the Borough Council, at its lasc meeting, had decided that the building of a Technical School would be the most suitable memorial to the late Premier.

Mr W. H. Jackson moved, and Mr E. H. Waddington seconded, "that the meeting affirm the resolution passed by the Borough Council." The motion was carried.

Mr Jackson stated that he was the oldest Manager of the Technical School. He traced the progress of the school from its inception, some twelve years ago. The present Technical School building was only occupied qn sufferance, and the Department could tell them to "pack up" at any time. In past years various sites had been suggested for a Technical School building. They could have no better site for a building than the one in Dixon Street. He hoped that the matter would 1 be enthusiastically taken up by the' puDlic of Masterton. The speaker was sure {there would be no difficulty with the Trust Lands Trustees. If they made a start ,to help themselves the Government, he was sure, would assist them. Mr Hogg said that, when Mr Coradine had been Mayor on a previous occasion he had endeavoured to get a suitable building erected, but the principal difficulty had been a site. He was of opinion that they would not obtain much assistance from the Government till they had a site for the building. He hoped one of the first steps taken by the new Trust Lands Trustees' would be to endeavour to make the Managers' tenure of a site secure. The speaker would do his best to get an Enabling Bill passed to allow the Trust to give a site for the purpose of 'a new Technical School. He was just- as sanguine as the Mayor that funds could be col' lected. Every day pupils were passing through the Public School and a great many of them »when they reached Standard V. or VI. had to leave the school and go to employment. It would be a great pity if they could not contine their education outside the public school. This was one reason why they should have a good Technical School erected in Masterton. He was surprised that the Managers had carried on so well in the present building. He would give the project his earnest support, and with the assistance of the Borough Council, Trust Lands Trunt and citizens generally he hoped to see it carried to a successful issue.

The Chairman daid he was pleased to see Mr O'Connell present, as it was he who had started- tha fixnd in Masterton for the erection of a memorial to the late Mr.Seddon. Mr O'Connell had expressed his willingness to hand over any money collected by him to aid any local proposal. Mr Coradine thought it would be a good idea to form a committee to carry out the rcheme.

Mr O'Connell stated that he would do all he possibly could to further the project. He would give a donation, and do any work in his power. The Chairman: I am of opinion that a personal canvass should be made of the town, and a circular canvass of the surrounding districts. Mr J. C. Ewington moved, and Mr R. Brown seconded, "that all present form themselves into'a committee to further the project, with power to add to their number." The resolution was carried.

Mr Coradine was appointed treasurer. Mr N. D. Bunting secretary, and Mr S. E. Wright assistant secretary. Mr Hogg suggested that a working executive committee should be formed.

Messrs J. B. Keith, W. 11. Jackson, J. C. Ewington, A. Haughey, M. C. O'Connell, T. B. Michell, R. Brown and W. M. Easthope, were ap-

pointed an executive committee. Mr Hogg stated that he was doubtful if the Government had power to vote any money towards a Technical School unless the land was conveyed to the Education Department. The Chairman stated that the Managers had communicated with the I Department on the subject, and had received a reply that the Government would recognise a good lease. Mr Hogg moved a vote of thanks ,to the Chairman, and in doing so J stated that Mr Coradine had started the movement, and he was sure he was going to carry it' out successfully. The motion was carried. MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. At a subsequent meeting of the Executive Committee, Messrs Jackson, Brown and Keith were appointed a sub-committee to draft a circular for subscriptions. Messrs Jackson and O'Conne'l were appointed to wait on the Borough Council in connection with the fund, and Mesrss Jackson, O'Connell and Coradine were deputed to interview the County Council, Chamber of Commerce and Trust Lands Trust on the matter. Messrs O'Connell, Ewington, Wright, Easthope, Coradine and D. Caselberg, with power to add to their number, were appointed a canvassing committee. Various other matters in connection with the collecting of funds were arranged. It was decided to call a meeting of the General Committee in about four or five weeks' time, when the Executive Committee will report progress.