NEW TRAINING COLLEGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 66, 19 March 1925, Page 11

NEW TRAINING COLLEGE.

rOUNDATIOX STONE XATD. BY MINISTER OF EDUCATION. Xhe foundation stone of the new Training College for teachers at Mount Eden was laid yesterday afternoon by Sir James Parr, Minister of Education, in the presence of a large gathering of citizens representative of the educational interests of .Auckland. Among thoae present were Sir James and Lady Parr, Sir James and Lady Gun son, Mr. Vivian Potter, M.P. for the district, Mr. ■flf J Jordan, M.P., and the Mayor of Mount Eden (Mr. 'E. H. Potter). A gnard of honour to the Minister was provided by students of the College. Mr. A. Burns (chairman of the Auckland Education Board) presided. The chairman said they owed a debt to the Minister for his part in obtaining the site and the Cabinet grant for the building, which added another monument to his services for the district. He also placed on record thanks and appreciation to Sir James Gunson and to the then Mayor of Mount Eden (Mr. J. W. Shackelford) for their assistance in obtaining the whole of the site. Sir James Parr dealt with various aspects of education (reported in other columns of the "Star"), and described the development of the Training College in Wellesley Street. He pointed out that, through the courtesy of the City Council, they had been able to carry on in the Annexe in the Domain, which he hoped would soon be replaced by the fine structure which was being built, and which they now saw in the course of construction. His thanks as Minister and the thanks of the Government were due to Auckland for its public spirit in lending the Annexe, which had been put to no more important service than the training of teachers. When they were finished with it he was sure the aesthetic eye of the Mayor would condemn it, and it would be removed from the Domain. He would hasten that day by hastening the erection of the new college. The Minister also spoke highly of the- splendid spirit that had prompted Auckland City Council and Mount Eden Borough Council to make a free gift of the site at Epsom Avenue. Incidentally he added that he thought the University College Council had made a mistake in rejecting that site in 1919. Sir James Gunson extended the congratulations of Auckland on the occasion, which, lie said, indicated the remarkable progress and development of the city. He hoped that not only would emphasis be laid on the scholastic side of the training, but also on. the moral and character side. Mr.. E. H. Potter expressed the hope that there would be money available to improve the grounds surrounding the building. ° Mr. H. Cousins, principal of the college., said he hoped the Minister would soon welcome them into the new hall which had been planned, and which was an integral part of the scheme. Sir James Parr was presented with a saver trowel by the builder, Mr H C Mcholls, and then performed the cereTV ?\ I f 7?? n ° the stone - he declared had been well and truly laid of the College, and a selection was also given by the College orchestra