TECHNICAL COLLEGE CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 8

TECHNICAL COLLEGE CONTROL

Education Board’s Fears

DESCRIBED AS ANOTHER

MARE’S NEST Invited last night to comment ou the remarks of Colonel T. A • McDonald, alleging that the Wellington Education Board was being filched of its rights regarding the control of the Technical College Board of Managers, the chairman of the Technical College Board Mr. Will Appleton, said that Colonel McDonald had merely unearthed another mare’s nest. “From tlio comments oi some ineiiibers of the Education Board at its meeting-on Wednesday, it seems that they do not understand the relative positions of the Education Board amt the 'Technical College Board. continued Mr. Appleton. "It i.s true that technical education in Wellington was at its establishment controlled and develope'd by a committee of the Education Board. In 1909. however, the Manual and Technical Instruction Act was passed, recognizing as “associated classes” those technical classes established jointly by the Education Board and certain other spedlie'd bodies, including an industrial or any similar public association formed in connexion with any branch of trade, industry or commerce. "At the request of the Education Board in January, 1903, the Wellington Technical School was brought under that clause of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act dealing with ‘•associated classes,” and a joint committee from the Education Board, the Wellington City Council, ail'd the Industrial Association, was set up as managers. The Minister of Education of that date approved of the request and fixed the number of managers. "It must, therefore, be evident that the management of the Wellington 'Technical College was legally established at that date. "The Education Act of .191-1 m Section .113. Sub-section 1. confirmed the control of the college by managers, and Sub-section 8 authorized the GovernorGeneral to make regulations defining the powers of control and management possessed respectively by the controlling authority and the managers of technical schools.

"It will, therefore, be clear that the work undertaken by the Board of Managers of the Technical College is that which, under the Education .vet and Regulations. 1: is empowered perform.

"Apparent li I here is some complaint that reports of the activities of the managers of the Technical College are not forwarded Io the education hoard, but three representatives of the eiltt cation hoard are on the board ol managers. They are, in effect, liaison ofbeers of lite education board and as such should present their own reports. In the past this has always been the ease, and there is no reason why it should not continue and there can, therefore, lie no reason why my board should report to the education board of which it is not a committee.

‘•The present system of control ot technical education by boards of managers of wide and varied exjierience has been .imply justified. They are men closely associated with all phases I of our industrial, commercial mid social life who must take any steps necessary tor the progressive develo|>- ' meat of technic..! interests iii our educational activities without regard to the hopes ir fears of individual mem--1 tiers of the education board. ■•'Pile resolution passed al the meet- • ing of the education board was in itI self quite harmless but. the fears exI pressed were without foundation. The , members of that board seem to be more concerned about their interests I than about educational eflieiency.”

Iteguhi lions gazetted last night giie I lire Governor-General in Council power to make tlie temporary appointment of a judge of the Compensation Court I to hold office for such period as may I In- limited in his commission.