TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4137, 27 August 1900, Page 5

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

DEPUTATION lu THE PREMIER. i a FAVOURABLE REPLY. The deputation appointed at the recent public interviewed the Premier and the Minister of Education in Saturday" "morning. ‘ T „ Tho Mayor of Wellington . (Mr J. G. W. Aitken) handed to the Premier the resolutions passed at the public meeting, and in doing so remarked that ho was sure every member of the deputation was pleased at hearing in the Budget that ■ something was to be done for technical education this session. Air S. Brown, - representing the. Wellington, Christchurch, -'Auckland and Dunedin. Industrial Associations, said that the Arbitration Court, of which he is a-member, said the Ldclr of technical education stared them in the face more and more every day. Although _ boys might bo bound, they would not. in his opinion, be better taught, and the remedy was that they should receive technical education.

Air T. Ballinger endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker. Mr A. D. Riley jDitector of ;tjie Wellington Technical School) said from what he had seen on a recent visit to England ho felt that they in-Wellington would have to move briskly if they were to be placed in a position to carry on the work of technical education as it ought to be carried on. The vVellington Education Board had done everything in its power to assist technical education, but had now reached a point when it could go no further without assistance, and would probably have to abandon a certain portion of tho"work. '. S’ V- ' : ' ? Air J. P. Luko said he bad twenty-five years’ experience in the metal trade, and ho could speak emphatically: pf tho necessity for technical education, and of the good effects of that- education in Wellington. Mr Hutson (brick and tile manufacturer) spoke to the same effect. The Minister of Education -said the* Government regretted it had not been able to pass tho Technical Education Bill before now. Air Reeves’s Bill was a start, but experience had proved that it mu not go far enough in the way of giving substantial assistance to that class of education. Experience had also shown that in regard to administration there must bo concentration, and not a divined authority. Wellington had honestly done its duty in regard to technical education, with limited means, and shown a splendid example to other parts of the colony, which .was very gratifying to all concerned. A Bill dealing with technical education was now under consideration, and ho trusted would be before Parliament in a very short time. The desire of the Government was that this question should be put upon a proper footing, and that every reasonable encouragement in. thei way of finances should be given, and that it should not bo fostered at the expense of any other part of the educational system.

The Premier said there was no, subject that could be brought uiider his notice that he felt so great an interest in as technical education. New Zealand, which was in advance in so many other respects, was behindhand in this. The Wellington Education Board had rendered great assistance, but now that its finances were embarrassed that embarrassment was put down to the assistance

given to the. Technical School. For his own part he should say that the Board could not get into debt for anything better, and the money having gone in that direction ho was quite sure the people would readily forgive it. An increase was to be given in capitation fees to the- Board, and the next etep was to provide’ means for, technical schools, ;so as to put them on a sound financial basis. . Excellent technical schools had been established at Wanganui,'Dunedin and Auckland, but the want of funds had caused a great deal of trouble, which was a state of things that shpuld riot bo allowed to exist. It was no fault of the Government 1 , which had desired to help, but whenever the proposal had ' been made, objections, for which there was no ground, had been raised, and that was why the. Parliament- had mot -given-tho. aid that was desired, and which the Government had submitted. He thought now, however, that the necessities were so great that those who were inclined to be finical would, lie hoped, accept the proposals of the'Government, which he felt sure were in the best interests of technical education. The Bill was almost ready,' and would provide for those schools already existing apart from thp Education Boards.. The Bill proposed to give 3a per head pet attendance at general classes, and lid per head at extension classes, 10s for every £1 of bequests, and £1 for £1 on' voluntary contributions, and provision, would also ho made for scholarships, and for ‘ the equipment and erection of buildings and forthe purchase of material and appliances. “Notwithstanding what the Government has done in the remission of duties,” concluded Mr Sedd'ori, “I have a little nest-egg left for technical education.”