NEW TECHNICAL COLLEGE. AT WANGANUI.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13032, 16 February 1911, Page 1

NEW TECHNICAL COLLEGE. AT WANGANUI.

s >. HON. G. FOWLDS LAYS FOUNIs DATION STONE. [United Pbesb Association.] - Wanganui, Feb. 15. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds this aU>>i t noon laid the foundation stone of new Technical College, a fine t\v( store ved brick structure, which is 1 1 cost £10,000, In introducing Mr Fowlds, th i chairman of the Wanganui Educatio Board (Mr Fred. Pirani) gave an i»: tcresting resume of technical edu cation in Wanganui. The Edu cation Board, he contended " had shown more self reliance nin received less Government support (s far as technical education was cvi cerned) than other centres. Dealiii] with 1909, a sum of £20,008 was col lectcd in fees, as against £1004 ii » Auckland, £6 in Wellington, £14 n North Canterbury, and £284 in Otago In the matter of capitation, Aucklaiu earned £600 less,AVellinKton £700 n ss North Canterbury £1290 less, nn< Otago £2522 less. Local contribu tiojis exceeded the centres as fnl lows:—Wellington £838, North Can terbury £745, Otago £1119. iuck land contributed £972 more thai Wanganui. The Board had only re ccived from the Government dur.n;. j the past twenty-one years £3590 foi technical buildings and apparat is Tho old site of the school is now beiiif leased, bringing in a revenue of nearly £1000 per annum. The Hon. Mr Fowlds, in the c-i'i-s< of his speecli, said Wanganui's i« If-'e- ■ liant policy was most commendaolo. and provided an answer to ','ioeo critics who considered tho Goyecmueni should undertake the initiation of technical and agricultural instruction', and provide the whole cost.- He was of opinion that the Government should not bo asked to give j;sristanco for technical and agricultural instruction until it was shown that sufficient local interest- existed to warrant a reasonable attendance at the classes. While Ministeri of Education he would help those- who tried to help themselves.