TECHNICAL EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9619, 27 March 1917, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

MORE ACCOMMODATION 1 WANTED SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION’S OPINION. Interesting addresses relative to the need for obtaining improved facilities for technical education in Wellington were delivered by’"Mr O. i'rost (chairman of the Technical School committee! and Mr W. g. La Trobe (director of the Technical School) beforo a meeting of tho Wellington School Committees' Association last night. Mr J. P. Shand presided.^ The chairman prefaced Mr Trust's address by remarking that the matter of technical education for children teas, a most important one and 0110 Avbich tho future of the Dominion was concerned. The matten had not received tho consideration it should from the public and decidedly not from the Government. Mr Trust bald tha question of technical education for children had been fully ventilated lately. Wellington was not getting fair play in regard to tkU matter, especially to accommodation. Successive Ministries had been approached on tho matter without success, but they had by no means given up. hope. Were it not for the fact that the technical school was under the control of an. up-to-date director in Mr La Trobe. the speaker did not know how they would stand. The scattered and scanty accommodation at present was shocking. Moreover, the present position of the echool was most unsuitable. Ho hoped that the new deputation which was again to approach Parliament would, with the increased support of everyone, demand a better condition of affairs. Whereas in other parts of the Dominion palatial buildings were provided for technical education, in Wellington they found portions of the classes situated at the tons of warehouses. The people of tho Dominion had to seriously face tho matter of providing proper education for their' children- Children should have the chanco of skilled training in technical education. They knew the superioritv of the skilled tradesman over the unskilled man and proper and efficient technical education would lead to a better condition of affairs than ruled at present. Mr La Trobe spoke subsequently. He remarked that it was impossible under the present cramped state of affairs to carry on all the branches of the work as they should be. Showing how the number of pupils had increased during the recent years the speaker quoted the following figures:—ln 1910 3476 pupils were taking instruction in various classes; in--1911. 1533; 1912. 1662; 1913. 1821; 191 L 1759; 1915, 1831; qnd in 1916. 1991. The Government was losing valuable skilled labour by its neglect in providing adequate accommodation for children in respect to technical education.’ Where the facilities for securing education were offered, the public would take advantage of the same. These facilities were restricted at present and consequently education suffered. The site the Education Department first suggested was situated at tho back of the Mt. Cook barracks and about four acres in area. Adequate buildings could be erected on this site and in conjunction with the technical schools provision could be made for- storing the archives of the city. Qn tho motion of the chairman a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the speakers, the meeting assuring them that the association would do its utmost to secure much needed improvement in technical education matters In Wellington.

In conclusion a resolution was passed urßinp that, the matter of better, accommodation for technical education be olaced before householders’ nieotings to be held during April. ,