CABINET AND TRAINING COLLEGE.

Evening Star, Issue 22194, 23 November 1935, Page 21

CABINET AND TRAINING COLLEGE.

TO TEE EDITOR. Sir, —Cabinet lias informed the Education Board '.that .. it gave full and careful consideration to tho question of reopening the Dunedin Training College next .year./' The chairman of ,the Education Board has little faith in this avowal of “full and careful consideration,’’ and puts the blame _ for the adverse decision on'a “ dominant influence.” It would be interesting to know just what took place at that Cabinet meeting. My imagination suggests something like this: —■ The Prim© Minister: “That concludes the business, gentlemen.” Hon. S. 6. Smith: “ There is the matter of the Training- Colleges.” The P.M. “ Bob settled that in 1932.” , ' Hon. S. G. Smith: “ But there will be 950 students in training next year and the re-opening of all four colleges is justified.” Hon. R. Masters: “ Syd. has been in Dunedin, where they have_ been putting across him their Scottish educational tradition story. When I visited their Central Otago and opened their intermediate school I had them all earing out of my hand, and the Training College was not once mentioned.” Hon. S. G. Smith: “ Perhaps with their Scottish courtesy they did not care to speak of ruthlessness when the destroyer himself was their-guest.” . Hon. A. Hamilton: “ I think Otago and Southland’s claims should not be overlooked. It is a long way to Christchurch for our Southland students.” Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (looking up from the proof of a fresh pamphlet) : “ I am not conversant with this Training College question—are there votes in it, and what’s the extra cost? ” > Hon. S. G. Smith; “Taking everything into account, the extra cost is a small item. Undoubtedly there are votes in it—perhaps not so much in Wellington as in Otago, where it is a vital question.” Hon. R. Masters: “Tut,-tut 1 How many people really will reverse their votes because of a Training College? There are '’only eight electorates in Otago, and we have six of them now, and I am relying on our propaganda retaining these six.” Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: “Mr Massey had a lot of time for Otago, and he always respected their educational activities. The people and the Press down there have always been good to us, and I would not be a party to alienating their sympathies. You know, Masters, interfering with education in Otago is like interfering with dairying in Taranaki.” ■ _ Hon. R. Masters: “ Come, Gorden, this two-college scheme of mine is a good thing for Auckland. Otago has held the educational reins too long; Of course, they’ll squeal, but let them squeal—the noise of their protest will be lost in our general propaganda. We’ro going back all right, and at the end of four years my two college scheme with larger buildings ,in Auckland and Christchurch, will have become a permanency. Anyway, Syd’s own department is against him.” Hon. S. G. Smith: “ My-department will not press its views in this question during election year.”_ The P.M.: “ This discussion appears to me to be futile when Bob settled the whole question in 1932. Anyway, it is a good thing for Christchurch' as well as for Auckland. What do you others say ?” The “Yes” Men (other members of Cabinet): “We agree with you, sir/' ' The P.M.; “ The matter is settled.” Mr Coates: “Nevertheless, I don’t like it. My intuition tells me we are making a mistake.” _ Hon. S. G. Smith: “Frankly, gentlemen, 1 am disappointed—we are not doing the fair thing.” —I am, etc., One Vote. November 22.