TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND LUKEWARM INTEREST.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 271, 15 November 1910, Page 5

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND LUKEWARM INTEREST.

A SUGGESTED ASSOCIATED BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. LOCAL , BODIES, EMPLOYERS, AND UNIONISTS.

The lack of interest manifested among those people who ought to show interest in the progress of our Technical School, has l>een responsible for the suggestion that an associated board of managers should toe established for the colleges. Discussing ithe suggestion at the meeting of the Education Board this morning, the chairman (Mr. C J. Parr) expressed the opinion that as many interests as possible should be represented on such a board, including the different employers' associations, trades mnions, and local bodies. Such a aboard or association would spread interest and maKe the college a live local concern, for all those people would become active workers for ithc college and would help ■to find money for it. In the South local bodies were much more generous in their attitude to technical education than was the ease up here, and it was a matter not altogether creditable to us that our local bodies turned the cold shoulder on technical instruction. A gentleman from the Patea district ihad told him that there was not a road •board in his district that did not put its hand into its pocket to help the technical college. He moved Ithat the matter be referred to the Executive Committee to report to the Board.

Mr. Harris eaid Ithat it was surprising to see the amount of ignorance among road boards and peopk generally as to •what was being done at our Technical School. Outsiders, in fact, seemed to have no idea of iwhat .was really going on there.

The chairman suggested that Mr. George, ithe director of technical education, e'hould encourage people to see the object lessons to be found a-t the college. At present the school was handicapped in this respect, as it was ecatitered among eeven or eight places, but bhat difficulty would ibe remedied when tike new building was finished. Mx. Garland remarked that he had brought up the question of assistance to the school at the Grey Lynn Borough Council abouit twelve months ago. The Council had replied in effect, "Yea, a very excellent object, but Wβ do not feel inclined to starve our streete. for, say, £100, for the purpose of giving it to the Technical College." But if Ithe members of the Council could go down and sec what was 'being done th-ey would probably change their mind. The chairman's motion was carried.