Dr D. E. Hansen headed Tech, for 30 years

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33113, 2 January 1973, Page 8

Dr D. E. Hansen headed Tech, for 30 years

Dr David Ernest Hansen, C.M.G., who died in Christchurch on Saturday after a long illness at the age of 88, was prominent in technical education.

He was principal of the Christchurch Technical College, fore-runner of the Christchurch Technical Institute, for 30 years up to his retirement in 1949. Dr Hansen was active in academic and community affairs. He was a member of the New Zealand University (Senate and the Canterbury University College Council, on which he served on the -academic committee, patron and life member of the Risingholme Community Centre, chairman of the provincial auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.

His other contributions to the community included work at the Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls’ College, the | Disabled Servicemen’s Reestablishment League, the (Crippled Children Society, the Cathedral Grammar School : Board, and the Technical School Teachers' Association. Dr Hansen was educated at the Thames High School and Auckland Grammar School. He went to Auckland University College as a Gillies Scholar and graduated M.Sc.. with first-class honours in physical chemistrv in 1907. In the next year Dr Hansen had his first teaching post as junior science master at the Christchurch Technical’ College. While there he attended Canterbury University College as a part-time student and graduated M.A. He was the first New Zealander to qualify as a selected [student for a free passage to; .Europe given by the Orient ’Steam Ship Company and; the Union Steam Ship Com-, pany. He studied at Berlin University for six months and then went to the Technical University at Karlsruhe. He graduated doctor with second-class honours in electro-chemistry and returned to New Zealand at the end of 1911. Dr Hansen was appointed the first principal of the Southland Technical College.

in 1912 when it became a day school for the first time.! and in July, 1919, came to Christchurch to take over as principal of the Christchurchl Technical College. While he was principal, the; college grew so much that the Papanui Technical College] was opened as a branch. Later [it became an independent [school. His services to education were recognised by the award of the C.M.G. on his retirement year. The rehabilitation of servicemen was one of Dr Hansen’s major interests after both World Wars. After theFirst World War, 1200 men (went through the college: classes and after the second,; the number was 1500. He used to recall that the benefits the returned men had gained were the most reward-! ling experiences of his teaching career. During the war he -took a direct interest in the: training of 250 men for fitting and turning for specialist jobs in ship-building and other essential industries. Dr Hansen had also been vice-president of both the New Zealand Football Asso-: ciation and the New Zealand Bible in Schools League. He is survived by his wife. ,a son, and a daughter. 1