THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12904, 9 September 1907, Page 6

THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

The promoters of the Advancement of Canterbury Association, in seeking to impress upon possible residents the many advantages possessed by the province and this city, will assuredly not lose eight of the new Technical College, formally opened by the Minister for Education on Saturday. If it fulfils ita purpose it must become a faotor of importance in tho development of the district. But it can only do that if greater use is made of the opportunities it offers for instruction in t«;hnical and practical xrork than hae hitherto &een tho case. Aβ Mr

FowJde pointed out on Saturday, fully 65 per cent, of the children who received free places last year - took up commercial courses of study. It is undoubtedly a good thing that tho junior clerks of the immediate future should receive a good grounding in the essential knowledge pertaining to their work, and it is gratifying, in view of recent criticisms by business men) to notice the largo numbers attending the classes for commercial arithmetic. But the Technical College, to be successful, must Dβ much more than a commercial college, and we are glad to think that this ie not overlooked by those who control the institution. The recent growth of technical education is remarkable, md the figures quoted by the Minister must have sur- ; prised a good many of his Bearers. In seven years the Government's annual expenditure on this Department of Education has risen from £2000 to £63,000, while in the same period the amount of voluntary contributions by the publio has grown from £428 to £3225. It could easily be much more without unduly straining the generosity of the public, but except in a few instances education in New Zealand has 1 yet to become the object of private benefactors. A great deal is talked about education, probably much more than was the case fifty years ago, but the founders of the province, as was the case in Otago, acted, if they did not talk, and in many directions we are to-day experiencing the benefit of their earnest and practical desire to ensure the means of education for those who followed them. If there was more of their spirit existent to-day, the much-needed new chemical laboratory at Canterbury College would be provided in a month. There is, however, a considerable degree of publio interest in the Technical College. It is partially supported by subsidies from local bodies, a system which, ensures its being brought under the notice of very many citizens, and wo trust that it will continue to command all the practical sympathy to which its usefulness entitles it.