TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 11

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

THE NEEDS OF AUCKLAND. CLASSES IN ADVANCED WORK. ATTACK ON DEPARTMENT. ' V Matters affecting technical education in Auckland were dealt with by speakers at the first annual dinner of the old boys of Seddon Memorial Technical College on Saturday evening. Mr. G. J. Park, principal of the college, said one of the outstanding needs vfas efficient and well organised classes for advanced students. They had approached the Government J.nd the Education Department time and time again for financial help, but the result had been such as to make him think the State did not want to help along technical education. Covering a period ,of seventeen years, the, grants made to the college for equipment totalled £IO,OOO, averaging the small amount of £550 a year. Even during the past threo years this amount had not been exceeded and when it was remembered that furniture and replacements of worn out equipment had to be provided out of the grants the extent of the handicap they wero labouring could well bo understood. "The Auckland Technical College has been given £SOO a year for equipment," Mr. Park said, "and as its students are equal, to one-tenth of all the technical school students in the Dominion the total expenditure in New Zealand on the same basis would be about £SOOO. It is not too much to say that our college has been starved." The Minister for Education, Sir James Parr, had always been sympathetic and tho speaker said ho felt it was not his fault tho grants had not been larger. Those in authority had not yet come to realise the Importance of technical education. They were continually learning from overseas visitors, many of whom made it a point of visiting the college, thai the technical work was on a lower basis hero than in other countries. This was especially true in higher and advanced technical work. "There is little in our present system of technical education to encourage, and much to prevent, the higher work being done in our technical schools," the director continued. The experience of other countries was just the reverse. Abroad, technical colleges were more often of university rank than otherwise, and there was no doubt that in time to come • tho schools in the Dominion must develop their higher courses arid so improve their status. " The State will havo to realise the importance of technical education," he concluded,/ "and then all difficulties will be swept aside." "Tho troublo is there is a tendency to have too much politics in education," said Mr. If. S. W. King, chairman of the Board of Managers of the college. "There should bo more education in politics and less politics in education." The policy of granting appropriations in Parliament toward education was entirely wroAg. They would get better and fairer treatment if the appropriations wero mado by representatives of tho ratepayers. Dr. G. P. O'Shannassy, who has had experience both in England and in the Argentine in technical education, said the equipment at the college was inferior to that used in similar colleges overseas. Good equipment was necessary for good results.