HOME SCIENCE

Evening Star, Issue 17062, 5 June 1919, Page 7

HOME SCIENCE

A MOVEMENT AT CHRISTOHDRCH. [Special to the ' Star.'] CHRISTCHTXRCH, June 5. A deputation from the Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College waitsd on the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) yesterday, -and atfced the Minister _ to mate provision for home science bursaries, tc-uable ab the Canterbury Technical College and at Canterbury College. Sir C. H. Opie (chairman of the Board of Governors) pointed out that the Technical Colkgre possessed ilie leading- hostel in the Dominion, and p-j-ssr-ssed better _ facilities than, any other institution of the land. Hceontended that, though there was no Chair of Home Science at Canterbury College, tileSame scientific instruction given at Otago University could be given at. Christchurch. The Oiirisi ehureh Technical College had already trained 20 Horn', science tcac!:ers, who now held-, positions in different parte of the Dominion.

The Minister, in reply, <said_ that be bad gone into the matter some time a-go, and. did not think that, it would be a desiiable step to take. It was generally admitted that the different University Colleges in the Dominion ehonld sr>fcia)i-;-e in s'-me special department, in order to secure the highest possible) standard of efficiency. Thus, they had the Medical School in Dunedin and tho School of Rijriiieerirg jn Chiistuhwch. Some pec pie wanted him to duplicate the Medical •School, but if lie did so it wou.d undeuniiw the prmcii.le of specialisation He read a letter he had written to Mr J. H. Howell (ex-director of the Christchurch Technical College), in which tho reasons for nou-compli-anee with the lcqu-Est were set out, reference being made io the fact that Canterbury College some years ago -was given first refusal of the proposal to establish a Chair of Home Science. In view of the acceptance of that chair by the Otago University, the MhrJe'te? fraid he did net like to take any steps that would interfere with the arrangements entered into with the Otug-o University. It was better to get a highly r-pectalis-cd training with any teacher. There must be a big margin of knowledge over -and. above what he had to impart. It- was folly to i-ay that he should be equipped only wrth the- knowledge lie had to impart t>o l;is claes. „He was very a-uxiouCio s<ee eomefhing done to secure that teachers in .secondary schools should .go through the proper course "o-f training, and ho thought fio-.mc4-h-ing would be done to remedy what, was a weakness in the preparation of teacb.xs for giving domestic science init.uotion.

"There is one question you have not answered," said the Mayor (Dr Tracker, M.P.). "You have not told \v> why these bursaries aie tenable onry in Dimccbn. ;V poo) - man in Cliri-stclnu'ch. oiitin r, i. send hie daughter io Dun eel in." " I have already ausweved the question," &a.icl Mr Hanan.

"No, you have not," said Dr Tbacker; "and [here is no answer. A man, if he is a poor mar. with a bnlliant .daughter, must submit to pcniu'y and borrowing' to send her T.o Dunedin." Mr Hainan: I am afraid you have net read the regulations. A girl who is bright and •above, the average ran take a bursary and sot the benefit c£ hj gker education. There arc girls attending in Dunednr who are tlvo daughters of poor men. The regulation.; Dr Th-acker: We have read the, regulations; but regulations are made to be broken. Mr Opie said (hat scholarships were teiiablo throughout New Zealand, and bur-varies cd:o:,ld be in the same position. Mr W. Jones said thai a poor girl could nob go to Dunedin en a. Warding allowance of £3O a year. The. MinUi.er would not expect his own daughter to do so. If the 'School wore in Chris; church any girl could attend, baeauso she would be living at heme. •'You would simply undermine a higblyKpecialised school of instruction," said the Minister. " if you make the bursaries tenable anywhere in New Zealand.' '"■ Now you arc bade on your third line of defence," "said the Mayor. "This is a. matter of argument, and I am not going to argue with you. Wo must win, because we are on the right wicket, and you are on the wrong." (Laughter.) PRESS COMMENT. Commenting on yesterday's hu:eaidcs deputation, the 'Prc..e' says, editorially: Mr Hanan had some rrajon for the non-compliant attitude he has taken up in regard to ihis request. There is eomc ground tor preserving to each University College its own special department; urd'Otago having esUbli-hod a Chair of Home Science, with which Canterbury College; would have nothing to do, has seme right to reap the rewards of its enterprise. But this argument is only tenable if the. amount of the bursary is large enough lo enable a holder to live in Dunedin at as little cost as she could in Ohristchurch, and ihis assuredly is not the ca-.-o at pre-tnt. No young woman can live away from hc.no nowadays on a boarding allowance of £3O a year. If, therefore, the Minister is determined that buua.ifK can only he held at Otago University—and it is on'y the seafciirtntal argument thai wo. have quoted in favor of such a policy—then he ought to re cogniso L.af if is hi; duty to increase the amount, of the bursary to that of a living allowance, otheivri-'Q daughters of Duncrliu residents and of moderately well-to-do persons living outside Ocago have an undoubted advantage over those of persons not, ko situated.