SUBSIDY CLAIMED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11295, 22 August 1922, Page 7

SUBSIDY CLAIMED

FOR TECHNICAL COLLEGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOARD AND DEPARTMENT. ____ FORMER DISAPPOINTED. The Board of Governors of tb© Wellington Technical College met last night. There were present: Messrs W. H. Bennett (chairman), J. O. Shorland, J. Bead, J. Barras, C. H. Chapman, T. Forsyth, G. L. Stewart, W. Pascoe, and Mrs J. A. Hannah. The Secretary of Education wrote respecting an offer the board had received of a loan of £SOO free of interest for three years for the purpose of the new building. “The amount is small,” he said, “when considered in connection with the cost of tire building and the term of three years is too limited. . . . Unless the term can

be extended, and the amount available increased, no substantial addition to the works already approved can be considered.” A letter was received from the Education Department with reference to tire board’s claim for subsidy on voluntary contributions. It was to the effect that any claim for subsidy for this purpose was regarded as already covered by the grant, £9411, recently approved by Cabinet. The department regretted therefore that the application for a further £I4OO must be declined.

The chairman said he was very disappointed at the attitude of the Government ; it was not encouraging to citizens who had made liberal offers. In view of what had occurred in other districts it did not seem quite fair to treat Wellington in this way. However, if the Government would not let the board find the money that duty would devolve upon the Government. The standing committee recommended :—(1) That application be made to the Government for the issue of debentures, as has been done in the case of Pukekohe, Hamilton, and Masterton, to the amount of £40,000, so that the front may be completed, the workshops erected and provision made for cookery, dressmaking, and needlework. (2) That a strong protest be made against the refusal of the department to make the statutory £ for £ subsidy on moneys raised for the new buildings on the ground that this was included in the previous Government grant.

The chairman thought that any conflict between the Minister and the board would be unfortunate, and add“lat when Sir Francis Bell was Minister for Education it was understood that citizens’ donations were to be subsidised by the Government at •r c* a W of £ for £. It seemed that if that understanding were departed ‘ T °m _ now breaches of faith inevitably would be committed. Mr T. Forsyth hoped a strong prorest would be made, and Mr J O Shorland suggested that a deputation should be sent to the Minister. The position, he said, was ridiculous. The board adopted the reeommendatirais of the standing committee. It was decided also to send a deputawion to wait on tho Prime Minister.