TECHNICAL COLLEGE CHARGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18066, 5 April 1919, Page 10

TECHNICAL COLLEGE CHARGE.

Tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, in a letter read before the Technical College Board last night in reference to recent charges made against the class of training given at the colioge, stated that it saw no reason for the modification of its resolution of January Id,.which read:— “ That this chamber withdraws from representation on the Board of Governors of the Technical College, and declines any further contributions towards the support of that institution, because it considers that however good its technical training may be, its general teaching is against the production of loyal, responsible and useful citizens.”

Mr J. H. Howell, the director, said that through Mr J. R. Hayward he had expressed a wish to the chamber that it should meet him and go into the matter. Tho chamber had declined to do so, and he could only say that he thought its action was- not worthy of gentlemen.

Mr J. It. Hayward said that he waited on the oouncil of the chamber on Thursday afternoon, not as a member of the board, but as a member of the chamber, and placed the matter before the members. He learned something that was news to him and also to the board, for the chairman distinctly stated that the chamber had no grievance directly against the director, staff and students, and that the resolution was aimed at the hoard only. Ho pointed out that his duty, therefore, was light, as he had only to persuade the chamber that It had made a mistake. He thought he had “ made his marble good” with tho chamber when ho left, for to hold that the resolution referred only to the board was ridiculous, for it was plain English and reflected on the whole college. He regretted that the chamber had not seen eye to eye with him, but he did not mind saying publicly that this was not tho end of tho matter as far as the Chamber of Commerce was concerned.

Tho chairman (Mr 0. H. Opie) said it was regrettable that the “amende honourable ” had not been made, seeing that the director had been refused a hearing. Mr Hayward added that before he left the meeting he stated that if the oouncil wished any further information the director was willing to come forward and discuss it.

Dir Opie moved that- tho letter should be received, and that the board should express its regret that the chamber had not submitted any evidence in proof of its assertions against the college. Mr H. R-. Rusbridge said that it was an extraordinary position, and the conduct of the chamber was scarcely what one would expect from gentlemen. Mr G. E. Franklin said that the board should not make itself ridiculous, and should drop the matter and get on with the college business. A great many commercial people outside the college had a feeling that the Chamber of Commerce, was quite justified. Later on, when the matter was thought over more maturely, the chamber might reelect a representative to the board. Meanwhile there was no call for unnecessary unpleasantness. The commercial community was deeply interested in the college, and the Chamber of Commerce was the backbone of tbe commercial life of the city. Mr J. R. Hayward: Nonsense. Not at all. Mr Franklin: What does Mr Hayward know about it?

Mr Hayward: More than you. Mr Franklin: I have had twice the experience you have had in commercial life. We all regret that the chamber has withdrawn its representative, but let us attend to business, and by and by the chamber may come back. He added that he hoped any _ resolution would be guarded and dignifiedMr Rusbridge said that lie greatly Objected to the reference to stirring up matters. The board was not going to take kicks lying down. He denied that the chamber was the centre of the commercial community. Mr W. Jones said that Mr Franklin had spoken without tbe facts, for the board had been charged with giving its children a disloyal education, and the board’s duty was to clear itself. Mr J. M’Cullough said that if Mr Hayward’s explanation was correct the chamber should have honourably withdrawn its allegation; but its members were not men enough to come along and say where tho college was at fault. If they would not meet the director, whom they did want to _ get at, irrespective of what they might say. now. Tho motion was carried.