TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11152, 19 December 1901, Page 2

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

The Normal School Committee reported to the Board of Education yesterday the result of the conference with Mr G. Hogben, th-e secretary of Education, on several matters connected with' technical education.

With regard to the Boards existing manual and technical classes, Mr Hogbea stated that in cases where the inr.jority of those attending were not primary school pupils the Minister would, in all prbbaUilitv regard the classes as special class**, the increased capitation provided fox under Sectim 9 oi the Act to be paid in the case of J*e<*ton.

Mr Hogb-sj. stated that tie work at school classes would be required once a year only. It appeared that- the secretary to the Dβ* partment was not in a position" to give the Board further information on the question of a central site for the technical school. It. was explained that the Normal School grounds were already very limited in area, not admitting of the erection "of a technical school, even if the site could b& regarded as sufficiently central. The application ot £60 on behalf of the Leestori and Doyleston centres would probably be granted. Mr Hogbsn promised that the woodwork classes formed at Lincoln College would be inspected, and capitation paid in respect ol outsiders.

The Committee was pleased to report that the Department intends to renew tie grant of £2(30 made this year for the training of teachers in manual "and technical subjects. The Department could hold out no hope that a'grant would be made for the purchase of material for school classes, though all the necessary apparatus, including plas* ticine, would be supplied. The Ashburton Technical Committee had written to the Committee suggesfciiJg the postponing of manual classes other than for teachers until February, and approving of the scale of fees suggested. The Committee also stated the reason actuating them in applying for a grant of £3000 for a technical school. It was agreed that some experimental classes should first be held, in order that it might be seen what* sized building was required; in the meantime the Board would procure plan* of buildings from .the Department. The Lyttelton centre forwarded to the Committee a list of the names of students attending the Technical classes. It was agreed to fall in with the Committee's suggestion that the claims for fees put in by the instructors should ba sent to the Committee, which would then remit the amounts to the ißoard-

In moving, the adoption of the report of the Committee the Committee's Chairman, Sir Dalziel. said that probably the conference with Mr Hogben would lead to a cessation of correspondence that sometimes had not been very cheering to the Board, and which seemed at times .is if the Department and the Board were not working harmoniously. Several matters had now been cleared "up, and it appeared that the Department was anxious to meet the Board in any way possible. Mrßuddo'said that he had taken the responsibility of taking the Inspector-General round the district, and had showed him the South belt school site and other sites for tbe technical school. The In*x>eetorGenexal had not expressed any opinion as to the merits of the sites, bnt had" thought that one school should be sufficient for the work. The report was adopted.