Chch Polytech plan rejected by Minister

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 9

Chch Polytech plan rejected by Minister

A move to make Christchurch Polytechnic the nation’s leading high-techno-logy training centre has been rejected by the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall.

Training facilities in this area were needed, but should be established at the Central Institute of Technology in Wellington, said Mr Marshall, in a letter to the Polytechnic Council at its meeting this week.

Mr Marshall declined a request for about $lOO,OOO to develop computer-assisted design and manufacturing training at the Polytechnic.

His decision has annoyed and disappointed the Polytechnic’s directors.

“We have a proven track record in this area," said one of the directors, Mr lan Hall, yesterday. “Christchurch Polytechnic could easily become a market leader in this. We do not

accept that such training needs to be established in Wellington.” The decision went against the initiative being taken by the Canterbury United Council to promote Canterbury as a centre of hightechnology development, he said.

It was also contrary to one of the Labour Party’s election planks of promoting regional development. A tutor at the Polytechnic had been to Britain last year and now had probably the most up-to-date knowledge in this field of any technical institute teacher in New Zealand.

The Polytechnic had also bought a training kit developed by the British Department of Trade and Industry. This was the only such training kit in New Zealand, said Mr Hall.

In his letter, Mr Marshall said that Education Department officers with special-

ised knowledge in the computer field were aware of the need to establish hightechnology tuition facilities within the technical institute system. However, for purposes of economy and efficiency a national training centre, possibly at the Central Institute of Technology, would be the first established.

This would probably be followed by centres in Auckland and Christchurch as resources permitted and demand indicated, said Mr Marshall.

In spite of Mr Marshall’s refusal to support the proposal, the Polytechnic intends to continue working in the area using its own resources.

“We know we will be able to attract support from local industries,” said Mr Hall.

“There are more ways of killing the cat than waiting for Government funds.”