TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18116, 5 June 1919, Page 4

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

DEPUTATION. TO MINISTER. HOME SCIENCE' BURSARIES. ' A deputation from the Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College waited on the Hon J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, yesterday, to discuss various matters of importance to the college. The deputation was introduced by the Mayor (Dr Thackor, M.P.). Mr C. H. Opie, chairman of the Board of Governors, said that at present there were 34 bodies contributing to the board’s funds, and the board consisted of 24 members. _ Minister’s recent Order-in-Council practically reduced the number to 9, since the maximum membership was 19, of which the Education Board was entitled to 8,, and the parents of pupils to 2 members.. Mr Opie emphasised the importance oj the influence exercised by. the representatives of the contributing bodies especially those representing trades unions—in bringing the advantages oi the college before those who would le benefited by attending the classes. The secret of that influence was the enthus, iasm of the members for technical education. To reduce the representation would be to do irreparable harm to the college, and on behalf of the board he asked that tho present representation should not be disturbed, especially as the board itself had macfe no complaint that tho present large membership was unwieldy. The Minister said that some time ago ho had gone fully into the question. He read a lengthy departmental memorandum in which the absurdity of the old basis of representation was demonstrated, as it made possible a membership of over 50. It was necessary, Mr Hanan added, in the interests of commonsense, that representation should bo reduced to a reasonable limit. Mr Opie said that the answer to this was that the Government should foot the bill for the whole cost of technical education. If that were not done, perhaps it would be better, in the case of Christchurch, that tho whole city.should elect the members of the board instead of the members being nominated by each contributing body. Mr W. Jones said it would be better if the board were elected by the ratepayers. Mr Hanan: Do you mean that there should be local taxation for education?

Mr Jones: I do. The Minister, expressed tho opinion that the experience of England, Scotland and the United . States went to show that if New Zealand adopted Hie system of local taxation for education it would be a retrograde step. “ Lord help the public mau. who attempted to advocate local taxation ior education on any platform!” said Mr W. H. Coopei. ' . Mr Opie asked the Minister to make provision for home science bursaries tenable at the Christchurch Technical College, and at Canterbury College. He pointed out that the Technical College possessed the leading hostel in thn Dominion, and possessed better facilities than any other institution of the. kind.He contended that though‘there was no chair of home science at Canterbury College, the same scientific instruction given at Otago University could .he given in Christchurch. The Christchurch Technical College had already trained twenty home science teachers, who now held positions in different parts of the Dominion. Mr S- C. Owen suggested that teachers of home science should go through a three years’ course—two at tho Technical College and one at the Teachers’ ’'’raining College. Mr W. Jones asked the Minister to state what objection there was to the bursaries being tenable in Christchurch. Mr G. TV. Aldridge (who was heartily congratulated by Mr Hanan on Ins appointment as director of the Southland Technical College) said that the Christchurch Technical College was regarded as ...the training place ior directors of technical colleges. He himself was the fifth man who had gone from the college to take up a directorship, and it was also looked upon as the training place for homo science teachers. He urged that home science bursaries should be tenable in ChnstThe "Minister, in reply, said that he, had gone into the matter somo time ago and did not think that it would be a desirable step to take. It aas generally admitted that the different university colleges in the Dominion should specialise in some particular department in order to secure the highest possible standard of efficiency.. Thus they had the Medical School m Dunedin. and the School of Engineering m Christchurch. Some people wanted lnm to duplicate the Medical School, but it ho did so it would undermine the principle of specialisation. He read a letter he had written to Mr J. 11. Howell (ex-director of the Christchurch Technical College), in which the reasons for non-compliance with the request were set out, reference being made to tho 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 oi that elixir by Otago University, the, Minister said lie did not like to take any steps that would interfere with the arrangements entered into, with that University. . It was better to get a highly specialised training.. with any teacher there must be a big margin of knowledge over and above what he had to impart. It was folly to say that he should be equipped only with the knowledge ho had to impart to his class. He was very anxious to see something done to secure that teachers in secondary schools should go through a proper course of training, and lie thought something would be done to remedy what was a -weakness in the preparation of teachers for giving domestic'science instruction. Mr W H Cooper said that tho whole of the classes at the college were too bie for the buildings, and there were 186 engineering students m a building suitable for .36. Christchurch .Vns the centre of electrical engineering and tho board would soon be compelled to ask for a very large sum for extenS 1 Mr Hanan said that the wants of the college so far had received fair treatment from him. (Hear, hear.) He expected to see a hig' development of electrical engineering .throughout New Zealand, with great industrial expansion. If the deputation prepared a reasonable statement of its needs he hoped to. he able to give a favourable answer.