TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9391, 2 April 1892, Page 3

TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOIi. Sib, —Will you allow me to bring under public notice the position of the above association, in the hope that those persons who are favourably inclined towards it, and who may feel disposed to aid it financially, may be induced to do so without delay. The association at its inception hoped to raise a considerable amount annually by fixing the members' subscription at ss, the object being not only to provide funds but also to enlist the active interest of as many persons as possible. In practice, however, it has been fouod as difficult to collect sums of 5s as of LI, and as it docs not pay to employ a collector to collect small amounts, our subscription list has all along been a limited one. Last year Messrs Burt and Cohen went to Wellington as a deputation from the association to urge its claims on the Government, and their efforts, aided by those of our local representatives, resulted in the Government placing a sum of LIOOO on the Supplementary Estimates in aid "of technical education. This amount the House voted without a dissentient voice. Indeed there is reason to believe that if the House had been asked to vote LIOOO for the Dunedin school alone they would have done so in consideration of the vote which was so nearly granted the previous year. Our committee was under the impression that of the sum voted the local association would receive LSOO to erect a workshop and get apparatus as well as a subsidy of pound for pound on all moneys raised from the public (exclusive of fees). I may here state that an association in Napier, founded on Hues somewhat similar to our own, applied also for a parliamentary grant. To both societies the same answer has been given by the Minister—viz., that Government subsidy must be at the pound for pound rate. As the Napier society has depended only on fees and not at all on public subscriptions, it is in the unfortunate position of getting nothing out of last year's vote.

Mr Reeves has met our association so far that he is prepared at once to give us poxind for pound on all moneys hitherto collected from the public, and he has undertaken to keep the account open somewhat longer (i.e., past the 31st inst., which is the close of the financial year) to enable us to collect up to L 4-00 if possible. From the foundation of the association in November 1888 up to the present date the Bum of LlB7 has been subscribed by the public, and on this subsidy is to be paid now. But the Minister for Education still holds L 213, which may be secured if our friends will only come forward. Now as to the needs of the association. We have hitherto always managed to pay our way, but it has to be borne in mind that each year some of our teaching work which has brought in considerable fees has been voluntary. Also the Education Board has greatly aided us by granting the free use of class rooms and apparatus, and the Athenreuni committee has given assistance in the same direction. Some considerable time ago the Education Board granted a site on their Stuart street reserve for a workshop, but this may require cutting down, a process the cost of which is at present an unknown quantity, but which cannot but be large. The estimated cost of erecting a workshop consisting of four brick walls and a roof is Ll7O, irrespective of fittings. When complete, the possession of this building would enable us to resume the carpentry, woodturning and metal-turning classes, which have been in abeyance for the past two years. Our chemistry class at present is strictly limited by the small size of the Normal school laboratory. The construction of a new laboratory would involve a very large expenditure quite beyond our present prospects, yet this is a direction in which expansion would be most useful. The physics and mechanics classes are in need of absolutely all the apparatus requisite for the due teachingof these subjects. A sum of L 75 would be required for each. We have recently had an offer from a well-known tradesman to conduct a practical class in plumbing but the fitting up of a shop for this work would entail a cost of L 75. Now, if we could secure the sum of L 213 promised by Mr Reeves we would be in a position to carry out much of the technical training for which the association was primarily founded, and whichis implied in its very name. Since the appeal recently made, our collector has been fairly successful in getting in subscriptions, but, as usually happens in such cases, the people who are always come clown upon first are those who have central places of business, and who are called on to subscribe to every sort of thing. I would appeal to those who are not to be found in the middle of Dunedin, to those who are not likely to be called upon, but who have it in their heart to secure this grant, to subscribe now. Dunedin has hitherto possessed a commercial and manufacturing supremacy in the colony The former, for geographical reasons, may not be retainable, but the latter certainly is, and one way is to make this place the site of the most important technical school in New Zealand. We have made the start, and without launching into expensive schemes, we are feeling our way and seeking to establish such classes as there is a distinct need and demand for. Let us in Dunedin try to build up from this centre a school which will rear effective and intelligent workmen, and from which the best and most highlytrained artisans may be sent forth. The machinery has been started, the sinews of war are now wanted. With apologies for the space in your columns on which I have trespassed.am. &c. March 29. Geo. m. Thomson.

— A package can now be blown from Paris to Berlin by pneumatic tube in 35 minutes.