MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13846, 8 March 1907, Page 5

MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

YISIT TO ASHBURTON. (Per United Phkss Association.) ASIIBURTON. Mareh 7. .The Hon. G. Ibwlds, Minister of Education, visited Ashburion -to-day. The Minister inspcclnl the High School, where it was pointed out that th« board desired a. large assembly room and science room, and this would necessitate an expenditure of £300 in addition lo the Government's grant of £600. Aflor an inspection of the plans Mr I'mvlds. said iie was agreeable lo giving tlio board a free hand in spending tlio money, providing it. could fmnnco tile extensions without burdening tho Government, (lie extra amount to be repayable in five years. At tho instance of the Borough School Committee the Minister visited a five-acre block of. land lo which it was proposed lo shift the school. The Borough Council owned the proposed site, and was prepared to make an exchange wilh the present sito of ihc school on a valualion basis. : The-Minister said 'he could not think of paying- anything [or (ho sito. If Ihe change wns to the advantage o[ the people of Ashburton the council should say it whs prepared lo give the silo and lake over Iho present site instead as a free exchange. At luncheon in the Teelinical School, tho viands of which'were provided by the girls of the- -cookery class, tho Minister said wiihin tha past few years they had dono marvels in New Zealand in the cnuso of education. Only a generation hence would Iho people realise what had boon done during these last few years. Tho new syllabus was a revolution in itself. A good deal of hostility had been manifested towards Ihe syllabus, and it -was u marvel lo him that Mr Hpgben had been able to effect such changes and remain in his position. A generation _ heiieo the people would look back lo Ihis lime—tin's last seven or eight years—us mi epoch-making era in Ihe history of education. _An immense amount had been done to improve the status of teachers anrl thus allraet ihe brifihtast intellects among the. boys and girls to the teaching profession. Aflor referring to Ihe superannuation scheme, the Minister went on lo say that all those lliiii.es bad been done, and at Hie same lime they had created a very extensive svstem of technical education. Five years ago Iliere was practically m> such inslit.nlion, biii large pxikmidii.uro had been made, and ihe growth of technical instruction had been enormous. They had that, day evidence of what Iho young girls could do. and he lielieved that right throughout Ihe colony the girls were being taught in tlio bist. possible manner to fit themselves for the struggle of life. Expenditure could not. he continued nt Iho same rate, but money would be used lo the best, advantage in consolidating ihe instruction. Tho Minister also performed the ceremony of declaring open the new Salvation Army Barracks.