Architecture and Building Trades.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 11, 2 September 1907, Page 412

Architecture and Building Trades.

The courses in this department include building construction and architecture, light and shade, modelling and drawing for archi-

tects, applied mechanics, mathematics, etc., plumbing (sanitary and roof), waterworks, etc.; carpentry and joinery, stair-building, design and cabinet designing : painting and decorating, etc. The building and construction class is under the direction of Mr. Chas. Ivawrence : the plumbing under Mr. George Reed, and carpentry and joinery, etc., under Mr. Graham. The plumbing classes are among the most successful and useful in the school. L,arge numbers attend, and the work done is of a satisfactory character. The course occupies four years, and covers the whole ground, so far as all ordinary sanitary and roof work is concerned. The certificates granted by the school to students completing their course, fulfilling all the conditions, and passing the final examination in plumbing are accepted by the City Council as evidence of fitness to hold a plumber's license. The system employed in arranging examinations in plumbing deserves a word of explanation, especially as it may easily be extended to other trades. The courses are laid down and all details of the examinations arranged by the Plumbers' Board of Control, which is constituted as follows :—: — Chairman — Mr. W. H. Morton (City Engineer), member ex officio. Members — Mr. D. Robertson, representing the Associated Board of Managers ; Mr. J. F. Adams, representing the Master plumbers ; Mr. Johnson, representing the Journeymen plumbers. Mr. W. S. L,a Trobe, Director of the School, ex officio. This Board scrutinises the applications of candidates, appoints examiners, and receives their reports. It also makes recommendations from time to time as to the general methods of conducting the classes and examinations. In addition to attending the courses and passing the examinations of the school, candidates must show that they have served five years at the trade, and have attained the age of twenty-one years, before they are granted the certificate of the school. The system of examination followed and the conditions imposed cause the certificate to have a very high practical value — so much so, that the certified plumber has been awarded Id per hour higher wages beyond the wages of the uncertified man, in a recent decision of the Arbitration Courts. The certificate is thus worth to the holder at least 3s 6d per week in wages alone. A similar system is proposed at the present time in regard to

electric wiremen and fitters, and it is hoped to extend the same methods to other branches of the school work, so as to give the greatest practical value to certificates granted by the school.

Convnercial and Literary Department. In this department, which is of great importance in a highly commercial town like Wellington, and attracts an increasing number of good students, there are classes in English, Arithmetic, and Latin, conducted by Mr. F. Martyn Renner and one assistant ; in Book-keeping and Accountancy, conducted by Mr. A. T. Clarke and two assistants ; in Typing and Shorthand by Miss Williams and two assistants ; in Mathematics by Mr. A. V C. Gifford ; and in Chemistry by Mr. J. Boyle. Students are prepared for business, for civil service, accountancy, matriculation, and other examinations in these particular subjects, with considerable success. There are also special classes — for example, Cookery, under Miss Ivey ; Dressmaking' under Miss Laurenson : Pattern-cutting for bootmakers, under Mr. Mapplebeck; which are established either to meet a special need, or with a view to developing fresh fields of work for the school.