REQUEST FOR GRANT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24020, 7 August 1943, Page 2

REQUEST FOR GRANT

TECHNICAL COLLEGE WORKSHOPS NO REPLY RECEIVED FROM MINISTER The absence of a reply from the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) to a request by the Christchurch Technica' College Board of Governors for a grant for the erection of additional workshops at the college was criticised by members of the board last evening, when it was reported that the Education Department’s architect had asked for plans cf the suggested lay-out of new buildings to be prepared. Mr W. T. Langley said it was unfair and unjust of the Minister not to reply to the representatives of the board when they had asked him to give a decision. In his report the principal (Dr. D. E. Hansen) said that the Education Department’s architect had asked hjjn to arrange with the board’s architect to prepare a line drawing of the suggested lay-out of new byildipgs for the whole site, and afttr it had boeu approved to submit it to the department. This had been arranged with the architect. Larger Classes Mr Langley said the Minister had definitely promised to write and give a decision on the matter of additional workshops, but up to the present not one line had been received from bim. The board knew the lack of accommodation that existed at the college. In 1923 there were 762 pupils in the day classes and 1753 in the evening classes. In 1939 there were 1167 pupils in the day classes and 2475 in the evening classes.' “There have simply been no buildings attached to the college over the last 20 years,” added Mr Langley. "1 think we should have had sopie reply from the Minister long ago. We promised the Education Department to put everything at the disposal of the men who are rehabilitated, but if we don’t get the rooms to do the job how are we going to do it? We should ask the Minister of Education to agree to the erection' of at least four rooms on the ground we have ready for the new building.” Mr R. Jones, whose opening remarks were greeted by a chorus of dissent, said the board had never had a settled plan, arid there had been no vision in the development of technical education. He believed that it was a step, in the right direction that'a plan was to be prepared in the • light of what the board had acquired recehtly. The acting-chairman (Mr B. Seth Smith) said the Minister had stated that he would be only too glad to help the board in any way, but he had not given its representatives anything de k finite beoause of the difficulty of getting materials. “This is the third time that we have been invited to prepare plans,” said Dr. Hansen. “From the point of view of rehabilitation our needs are the greatest in the Dominion. Rehabilitation should come ahead of almost anvihing except defence.” The board decided that the plans should be proceeded with.