TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12904, 9 September 1907, Page 8

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

OPENING OF THE COLLEGE

SPEECH. BY THE HON. G

FOWLDS

The Cbristchurch Technical College was formally opened on Saturday afternoon by the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education. The function was very numerously attended, tho attendance being a representative one. The preliminary speeches were delivered in tho metal workshop, which is detached from the Collego building, the Chairman of the Board of Governors (Dr. Hight) presiding. On the platform were the members oi tho Board of Governors, and representatives of the various public bodies and associations which have contributed to the technical classes. Amongst those present were Messrs T. H. Davey and li. Witty, M.H.R.'s. Apologies wero received for absence trom Messrs \V. Recce, W. Lowrie (Director of Lincoln College), John Studholine, R. C. Bishop, John Anderson, Frank Graham, o. Saunders, George George (Director of Auckland Technical .School), H. J. Marriner, W. E. Best, \\. C. Cole?, J. A. Black, C. M. Gray, M H.R R. Speight, Misses Bruce and Middleton, Dγ C Farr, Professor Blunt, the President of the Tramway Employees Union, and the headmaster ana staff of the Fendalton school. THE CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that the ceremony about to bo performed was one of vital importance, not only to the Chnstchurch of the present, but also to the Chnstchurch of the future, the nerve centre of a promising industrial district stretching across the fertile plains to the richly mineralised mountains of tho back country. However rapid might bo the advance of tho district, it wae hoped that it would be outstripped by the Technical College, and its building and general facilities should increase at « greater rate than the city itself. Education was among the most powerful factors that determined the productivity of a peoples labour. It was to the educational systems, rather than to their policies of high protection, that America and Germany owed a large proportion of their industrial and commercial progress. Without an educated people possessed of sufficient self-control and honesty to abandon tho system as soon as it had done ite work, or proved boyond doubt unable to do it, protection would involve ruinous cost. In so far as education stimulated activity of mind, broadened general intelligence, promoted trustworthiness and good will, induced habite of wise mquisitivenees, judgment, resourcefulness, carefulness, promptitude and steadfastness of purpose, so would it enable a people to dispense with the use of such a double-edged weapon us protection. Authorities agreed in the belief that a man's capacity for his life work woe conditioned most by the character of the general education he received. It would be an essential part of the policy of tho Board of Directors to provide an ample measure of general mental and manual training, carrying on the general education begun in the primary school. Referring to tho cry of too much education, tho speaker eaid that the truth was that education had not advanced far enough. No one pretended that our schools did as yet anything but touch the very fringe of education, and ■whatever the cost might be, there must be a great development before a stage was reached! at which we could rest even partially satisfied. The speaker went on to detail reasons for the failure to perceive the industrial value of a good general education, and remarked, after citing the Danish education system as an example of one "based on sound principles, that in Now Zealand the "new" syllabus and the Manual and Technical Act of the Seddon Government had' done much towards the true naturalisation of tat education eyeteiu. I>r. Hight concluded with a grateful reference to the fotre&ght, emergy, and f&nthue|iasfic labours of those who began, the inovemnt in technical education in Christchurch, and briefly gave the history of that movement, which owed its origin to tho Industrial Association in 1901, when it waa under tho presidency of Mr B. E. McDougall. That Association in 1002 set up a standing committee, under the chairmanship oi Mr W. Minson, which arranged lor several conferences between representatives of the leading public bodies C Chriatchuroh. A Board of Managers was elected from these representatives, end the first meeting was held in December, 1902, when Mr Miii<sou was elected chairman, a position he occupied till 1904. Continuation classes were formod in the City, Richmona, and Sydenham in 1903. The North Canterbury Education Board took control of these in October, 1904, and continued to control tnein till November, 1905, when a new Board was elected. In January, 1906, tho present Board was chosen, and p>ans for the new buildings were prepared by Messrs Hurst Seager and! Wood, who generously acted as honorary architects, A tender for the present buildings and workshops waa accepted for £7300. Last year representatives from public bodies decided that the North Canterbury Memorial to Mr Seddon should take tho form of additions to the Teohnical College, and the subscriptions received amounted to about £600. With this amount and the subsidy there would bo sufficient, it Was ihoped, to erect an assembly hall ana museum not unworthy of being a memorial to the late Premier. . The Chairman then asked the Minister to accept, from the Board of txovernors, a silver key with which to perform the opening ceremony.

THE MINISTER'S SPEECH. The Hon. G. Fowlds said that he was pleased to have tho privilege of takmg part in the day's ceremony. He realised the keen interest taken in all educational matters by the people of Canterbury, and the Technical College was tho crowning monument to their zeal and appreciation of tho benefits that would arise from a widely diffused system of technical education. Ho very cordially endorsed the chairman's remarks regarding tho benefits of education. The College would bo a rery fitting memorial of that great statesmen who passed away last year. Few people in the colony realised to what a great extent the advance of education was duo to Mr Seddon. Seven years ago, when he (Mr Fowlds) entered Parliament, the total amount paid for technicnl education was just ■bout £2000; whilo last year there was spent over £63,000. That expenditure had grown out of a system which wee introduced under tho auspices of Mr Soddon ns Minister of Education. (Applause.) Tho figures for the- last five years showed the wonderful growth that had taken place in connection with technical education. In 1902 the expenditure was £15,453; in 1903, it was £24,208; in 1904 it was £27.317; in 1905 it was £34,64 D; and in 1906 it was £63.255. The growth of the interest of the public was reflected in the amount of voluntary contributions made towards technical education. In 1902 they amounted to £428. whilst Inst year they totalled £3225. (Applause.) Those figures only reflected a_ portion of the financial assistance given in a voluntary manner. Sums had been contributed in various parts that had not been brought to book to get a subsidy, and in Auckland over £2500 had been contributed voluntarily towards the erection of a suitable building. The number of classes and of those attending them had grown in like manner, and these facts were. to him, very satisfactory. He hoped

they were only at the beginning of the development of technical education. It was necessary to bring to tho aid of industrial processes all the assistance that science could afford, and the people of ChristchuicJi had early appreciated thi3 and had done very good work, in many cases under adverse circumstances, "in promoting technical education. The managers of the College were to be congratulated on securing the services ot their present director. Ho (Mr Fowlds) had seen a good deal of Mr Hovvell during the present year, end ho knew something of him before he came to this city— as it matter of'fact, he was stolen from the people of Auckland, and what was Auckland's loss was Christchurch s gain. The Auckland people, wero very generous - hearted — (laughter) — and white they regretted Mr Howell's departure they did not begrudge him to Chnstchurch. Whilst congratulating the community on the completion of the College ho pointed out that technical education did not consist of buildings, and ho did not want them to settle down and think that because they nad a good technical college no further effort was necessary on their part. He appealed to the parents to Interest their children in tho work of the College, and see that they took advantage of the opportunities provided in its walla; be also hoped that employers of abour would get their apprentices to take advantage of the facilities provided by the College nnd reward them m tne shape of additions to their salaries. Towards the cost of the building the Government had contributed £- 306, and towards the equipment £1368. tie thought the Department had dealt generously with the institution. -Iho opportunities that lay before th? young people of Chnstchurch to obtain technical education were iinsurpassed in any part of the colony. What with the Scnool of Art, the School of Engineering, and tho Technical College, no other centre was so well WPI** 1 ™ r technical education ne Chnstchurch. (Applause.) He urged that interest m tho College on the part of the community waa necessary it it was to to a .success, and eulogised the public bodies for tho interest tneyhad takon in the subject. He hoped that tho day classes started in connection with the 'College would grow in number and attendances. He regretted to find that comparatively few of tho children who received froo places took up practical and technical work. Last year fully 0.5 per cent, took what might be called purely commercial courses of study. While that might bo useful, it would be more advantageous to tho community if a larger proportion took up work that would fit them for industrial pursuits. Speaking of technical education throughout the colony, Mr Fowkis said ho appreciated highly what had boon done in establishing classes in agriculture. At the present time every Education Board nad got into line and provided for giving tho children in the country districts instruction in agriculture, and he believed that this would have most beneficial results. The people of Canterbury and Otago deserved very great credit for tne present position of education in New Zealand. The Pilgrim Fathers in this district, and the settlers in Otago, realised the importance of education, and made largo provision by way of end'owmenta to secure to their children complete education. The result of these educational endowments had extended beyond the two provinces, ana hud caused tho General Government to recognise the responsibility binding them to do something to bring educational methods and opportunities up to the standard set by the pioneers oi Canterbury and, Ocago. Ho hoped the people of to-day would be as wise as the early settlers, and before it waa too late make further provision for the endowment and. equipment of the education system of tuve colony. Concluding, Mr Fowlds said he accepted the presentation key as a memento cv the occasion, and ho appreciated it very highly. (Applause.) It would be wrong, he added, that the gathering should disperse without a word , ot commendation being eaid regarding those ladies and gentlojnen who haa carried on so successfully the School of Domestic " Instruction. (Applause.) They had acted wisely in deciding to transfer -those classes to the Technical College. The community was under a deep debt of gratitude to those ladies and gentlemen who carried out tho work connected' with «.*ie school in the past, and for years to come the influence of that schcol would be founo; operating for good on the city and its surroundings. (Applause.) , THE MAYORS SPEECH.

The Mayor (Mr G. Payling) paid the citizens could congratulate themselves on having such a college, and ho thought no better means could have been selected to perpetuate tho name of that great statesman, the late Mr Seddon. After referring to the assistance given the technical classes by the City Council and other local bodies, he said that it was a matter for congratulation that the community possessed such an admirably-equipped institution. Technical education was of the greatest importance to Christchurch, which was destined to become tho manufacturing centre of New Zealand. At no distant date it was hoped to increase the supply of electric power by harnessing the AVaimakarin, and, as the result of cheap power and the establishment of industries, the Sumner canal would become a necessity. His Worship made a strong appeal to the people of the province to assist and support tlie Advancement of Canterbury Association.

THE DIRECTOR ON EDUCATION ,M£ n- H, HoweU (tho Director of the College), on behalf of tho staff and himself, thanked the Minister for his presence. The college was at present in its infancy, but they looked forward to a time when that day's ceremony would be looked upon as one of the most important events of Mr Fowlds's -Ministerial career, and to a time when the present accommodation would prove to be insufficient. When the city had developed on the linea described by tihe Mayor, the College would play a most important part— perhaps the moet important part—in the industrial life of the community. Ho desired to emphasise some remarks made by the chairman. It was necessary that peoplo should realise the essential importance of education. Whilst the standard of education in Now Zealand was high, thero wos not the same enthusiasm for education as that which characterised the Scottish and the Welsh. It was a fnct not to bo passed over lightly that while there were no Rockefellers in New Zealand, the number who had devoted sums ot money for educational purposes could almost bo counted on one'e lingers. Philanthropy in the narrow sense, valuable and welcome as it wos, did nothing more than tinker with social disease, while education struck at the root of it. It was a melancholy fact that in this province of Canterbury, whilo in a single week £120,000 wns forthcoming for investments on tho totalis.itor, tho chemical laboratory at Canterbury College was temporarily housed in an iron building. They ought not to fear the decadence of the British army or nation so much as the decadence of their workers. If the people of New Zealand did not realise tho importance of education their children would become howcrs of wood and drawers of water to thoso who did. If our system of technical education was merely technical education, it was bound to fail; it must bo not only for the workshop, but for life in all its varied forms. The students must be snpplied with intellectual stimulus and the workers must be given high idenls in order to assist them to realise nobler aims and to appreciate the truth of the ancient saying that what was useful was noble. (Applause.)

TIIE OPENING CEREMONY. Tho gathering then proceeded to th© main building, where the- Hon. G.

Fowlds unlocked the door of the mam entrance and formally declared the college, open. The Minister was presented with a bonquet by Dr. Ilight c little daughter who Mas rewarded by receiving a kiss from the Minister. The. company then inspected the building, and several visited the woolsorting exhibits in the South Belt school. Afternoon tea was dispensed in the rooms to be devoted to domestic instruction, Miss Beck conducting the necessary arrangements very satisfactorily.

The college was opened for inspection by th/public on Saturday evening, and the opportunity to look through the building w«s taken b largo number of people Tilth the provision the colle S c contains for the multiplicity of departments, ondeta it is a most interesting building to inspect.and thoso who attended aEP"entlv eimyed the casual s tro »,, thro Tho evident completeness of the equipment the brilliancy of tho lighting, and th- generally eubetantial appearance of tho building were subjects ot universal remark. Tho opinion was expressed that the. college will prove an invaluable Requisition to the cits, and that it will materially «»«*"» promoting tho popularity and usefulness of technical education.