TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 270, 20 August 1925, Page 15

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE The annua! conference of Boards of Managers of Technical Schools was continued yesterday. , • Prior to the commencement of bust ness the conference passed resolutions of sympathy with the relatives ot the late Hon. W. F. Massey and the late Mr. C. H. A. T. Opie. The first matter considered by the conference was the 'best, method by which technical colleges might come into contact with representatives ot industry. It. was pointed out tnar the apprenticeship committees had very wide powers and that in many industries it was being found very difficult to get the best men to accept membershin of apprenticeship committees, and that technical colleges might be well advised to . keep themselves free from participation in industrial disputes. It was eventually decided that the conienence emphasise the necessity of technical colleges working closely in contact with trade associations consisting of representatives pf employers and employees. . The second remit urged that tile Government be asked to consider the economic problem of placing on the land those boys who have taken nn agricultural course at a technical nigh school and the representative of the Stratford High School, woo brought forward the proposition, pointed out that, although in the secondary schools of New Zealand very much was being done to induce boys to take up agricultural courses, little help was offered to such boys in order to make it possible for them to go on the land. Several speakers opposed the motion on the ground that assistance to boys wishing to take up farming in this respect would have to be extended later so that boys wishing to go into business might be similarly provided for. The Superintendent of Technical Education remarked upon the curious fact that, although the Government has encouraged agricultural courses in secondary and technical schools, and that 10 per cent, of the pupils take these courses it was nevertheless a fact that 30 per cent, of tho boys afterwards went on the land. The remit was lost

Another question dealt with by the conference was that of tho type of instruction being offered in the technical colleges. The conference decided that it was advisable that technological instruction should he further developed on the scientific side and that this should be the principle aim of the technical colleges. Mr. J. R. Kirk, of Gisborne, said that at present they were faced by the position that the learned professions were overcrowded and that salaries earned in many professions were very low. He felt that, it was essential that in technical colleges it should be tne care of the boards of managers that the proper type of mon were turned out. The Apprentices Bill passed by Parliament was necessary in order to overcome an acute position that had arisen in regard to apprenticeship. , He felt the impression that technical education in New Zealand was not getting as far as it should bo for tho money spent, anil recommended that the conference seriously consider ascertaining the cause. The following resolution was carried: "That tho policy of the Education Department with reference to tho provision of equipment of technical colleges is not sufficiently liberal to ensure that adequate courses may bo provided for apprentices attending the evening classes and, further, that the present system of obtaining funds for the purchase of apparatus and materials for tho use of students in technical schools is not satisfactory and should be replaced by a system under which boards of managers could be given substantial and determinable amounts to be expended at their discretion.” In connection with the new scale of fees for technical schools circulated by the Education Department recently, a committee consisting of Messrs. Sage, Trimble, Luxford and Dr. Hansen was set up to bring down a report.