THE MOUNT COOK SITE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 129, 1 June 1907, Page 9

THE MOUNT COOK SITE.

irEEDS OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION. DISCUSSION AT A MEETING OF THE BOARD. ENQUIRIES TO BE PROSECUTED. HOPELESS OVERCROWDING. Tho agitation for tho Mount Cook sito for tho purpose of technical education v. as again in evidence at the meeting of the School Board last evening. When the report of tho deputation re tho Technical School sito was read to tho meeting, the chairman (Mr. J. P. Luke) said the deputation had done all it could in tho matter. In his. opinion the Minister had taken up a veiy wrong position. It was quite impossible for tho board or the city to get four or five acres of land in the town. He reiterated tho arguments put forward by tho deputation, and said that when Parliament met they should uso all their influence to get what they required. Mr. T. Carmichael asked if it was a fact that when the City Council handed over tho land on which the polico station in Manners-street was ejected, a distinct promiso was made to give four or live acres of the Mount Cook site in return. Mr. Luke icplied that the exchange land was used by the council as a public pound for some years, but he was under tho impression that some suttlemont had been arrived at between the parties. Mr. R. Allan said he believed that the council had never been compensated for tho land it. gave to the Government in Manners-street. . Mr. M'L&ron thought details of the supposed, settlement had never been in ado clear. Mr. Carmichael moved that enquiries onould be made as to the actual position of tho land at Mount Cook — i.e., whether tho council still has any 'claim over the land occupied by the public pound. Mr. Robertson said tho Minister was not the right man in tho light place, inasmuch as he did not seen to have <v proper conception of the importance of technical education. It was the duty of the Government to encourage the school in every way, but it did not aeem to appreciate the position. Ho was very much disappointed at the attitude of tho Minister, and if ho did not change that attitude ho would nover bo the advanced friend of education Mr. Robertson hoped him to be. Mr. M'Laren said tho advancement of technical education in the chict city of tho colony should commend itself to the Government. Ho was always prepared to fight where he saw a prospect of winning, ho was afraid little was to be> gained by antagonism. Tfie Government had nine points of the law — possession. The agitation could not be dropped by the board. It was of vnal importance to the projrres* of tho school, and an appeal should bo made to Parliament. Tho Government was subsidising tho , Gchools, and it was an extraordinary > thing that it should be a stumbling--block so far as pioper scops for the bchoote in the matter of bnildinge was concerned. Nothing could be .better in the interests of the colony than to sot ; aside a reserve for technical education. , The City Council had been generous in its treatment of the Technical School,, while the Government followed a- cheeseparing policy. The attitude of the Gov- '■ eminent was, to say the lc-st, comewhat ■ mean. If the school was not supported by the State the boird would be v.nable to carry ont the duties entrusted to it. Mr. Allan conisldfred there, wad no hope of getting the Mount Cook site, and the board would have to look round for another. Personally, he did not know of ' one. It was therefore a question whether i the board should not proceed to make the ' very best use of the land available. Tbcy j could not wait till tli& next election ' was at hand — that was the only time tho Government seemed to exhibit reason in those matters. It would not be dipnified I for the citizens to again approach the Government, but it might be possible to ' cany on tho work for a few more years in buildings to bo elected on the land at ' present available. j The motion was duly seconded and car- ' ried. FURTHER ARGUMENTS FOR EXTENSION. "It is just another illustration of th& justice of the -request we made to the Government," said the chairman, when a I repoit on tho work of the school was sub- ' mitted. j In this document Mr. La Trobe stated ' that tho building construction class had more than reached its limits, and tho work was being clone under extreme difficulties. There was urgent need of a typewriting room, while the book-keep-ing and other classes were in need of accommodation. In view of tlie fact that the City Council contemplated making . the ekctric wiremen of tho town pass a. qualifying examination, and take out a license, tho board would require to provids very much more extended workshops mil laboratory accommodation foT the electrical classes. He had been appioachcd to establish classes in farriery, coachbuilding, and lithography, but ho could not <see how the board could at present find room for such classes. Owing to the increase in the day ait classes it had beeii found impossible to make room for tho apparatus for the jewellery and metalwork instiuctioti. The importance of providing such classes with ample* room lay i in tha fact that it was practically only in these classes that tho young art student could find a remunerative outlet for his artictic training. He regiotted> that he could not see his way to innkc any recommendation in these matters excepting to urge that, the need for improvement in accommodation must be satisfied at an early date if the school was to avoid a dangerous set-back in the near future. Th& needs of the student* coining on to advanced work were out of all propor- ! tion to the accommodation at their disposal. j Tho needs of tho Art School were set out in detail by the instructor, and it was stated that "tho classes are at present crowded into four rooms to the detriment both of the equipment and the quality of tho works , a conservatory and a room for painting and decorating werp required. Accommodation was also required for various craft classes. It was decided to send a copy of the report to the Government. THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL. A separate report on the engineering school was also read to the meeting. It was pointed out a lecture room should bo lidded for machine design, steam, etc. The present workshop accommodation wai fairly adequate, but a number of RpfJiMttea were- required, and these Mr. La. Trobe enumerated in detail. "It is idle to disguise the gravity of our piesci't position in rogaid to these engineering classes," tho director concluded. " Cr runted proper facilities I havo no doutj. whatever, judging from the students we aro now preparing, that work could bo done in this school equal to anything else with students of the same ago. If, however, proper means are not forthcoming, it is only too certain that tho young students wo aro training will bo (severely, and, I think, very unfairly, handicapped." Consideration of tho report was dei ferred till next" meeting.