BIG SUM WANTED

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 80, 1 October 1918, Page 3

BIG SUM WANTED

THE NEW TECHNICAL

SCHOOL

COUNCIL URGED TO "OPEN

ITS HEART"

In connection with the proposed erection of a new Technical, School on the Mount Cook site, a deputation waited upon the Finance Committee of the Gity Council yesterday to urge that the council should be generous in its donaj tion and increase the contriI bution of £10,000 to £22,000. The | deputation comprised five members of j the Wellington. Industrial Association, l n?mely, Messrs. Mainland, Ward, Part- ' ridge, Ballinger, and Allen (secretary). Mr. Mainland said lie knew that most of the members of the committee. were sympathetic towards technical education. The first battle—the provision of the necessary land—had been won; and he heped that final success was now in sight. ' The Industrial Association had always kept technical education as one of its main planks. The association felt that-it was now one of the principal problems of the ■ day. There was no need for him to enlarge upon -the importance of training boys to take their place in the industries of the country. It was hoped that the City Council would "open its heart" and contribute an amount "worthy-of the city." Much depended updn the lead of the council as to'what the Government and the public would do. : .

Mr. T. Ballinger said the point he wanted to make wa-s this: They expected to get much more from the council than the sum already mentioned. He thought that the capital value of the Mercer-street property could . now be stated at £18,000; the building was piobably worth £4000—a total of £22,- : 000. . That. was the amount he would' ask the council to give. It was double the .amount suggested by the Minister of. Education. He proposed that the amount should be paid in yearly instalments, SO that the burden on the ratepayers would not be,too great. ; In reply to questions by several councillors, Mr. Ballinger said' he did not think he had made any mistake as to the value of tho land; probably his estimate was on the. low side.

Mr. C.-J. Ward brought before the council the broader issue at stake. The proposed arrangement in connection with tho council's contribution was purely a business transaction. He trusted that the council would view the . matter broadly, and do something quite. worthy of the city in which, they lived. ■ Never before had the council been given such an opportunity to ido something big, and something- useful. He wanted the council to rise ■ above the position of ■"mere bargainers." In fairness to the future generatic-ns there should be a technical school in Wellington second to none in the Dominion. In bringing this about tho council could help wonderfully. .., • . ■. •:■;.,■ , Councillor Barber asked . whether the members of th« deputation intended to appeal to adjacent bodies or leave the wholo burden to the City Council. Mr. Mainland said the deputation would go wherever it could' in -an endeavour, to force the movement forward.

Councillor Frost reminded-itho members of the deputation that the Government/had not yet definitely handed thij site over. They had first of all to obtain legislative authority.:;..■ . ■■''■■■ Mi-. Mainland: I think we can make sure of it. .

The Mayor, in reply, said it was not difficult to interest the council ' in the matter of technical education. The council was very gratified at the offer of a site at Mount Cook. In reference to the council's previous offer, Mr. Luke stated that the council had.already considered the advisability of paying the amount by instalments. Whether the amount -would tie increased was a matter'which had yet to be decided. "You have my sympathy, and something more than my sympathy,' in the matter "of technical education in Wellington," stated the Mayor 'Tthink I can'also say,;with equal truth, that the council as a'whole realises,the importance of the question. ! With us, it is not a matter of Ss.'d.-. It is a matter of educating the young and fitting them better for their, after-life. It is a mat--ter of.great interest to us as well as to the General Government, although the 1 latter is more concerned; financially. We will consider the whole question broadly, arid report to you later." . Mr. Mainland thanked the, Mayor and the cqmmittee, and tho deputation then withdrew