COLLEGES FOR TEACHERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5421, 31 July 1906, Page 4

COLLEGES FOR TEACHERS.

AVE LUNG TON, July 27. In opening (ho Training College for Teachers, t'ho Premier, who was rcceiv ed with applause, remarked that in t'ho Education Act of 1877 provision was muilu for training colleges for teachers, but he believed that that work was only taken up at Dunedin awl Christehiirch. Unfortunately, after sonic years a time of stress came to t'ho eolony, it was necessary to reduce expenditure, and the training col leges were the first to sulTct. That must not happen in the future. He expressed surprise that only £SOOO -1/wa.< received from land endowments for primary education last year and £.'i1,713 for secondary education. lie thought that instead of a million 'acres they, should set aside two million acres for educational purposes, if necessary. There was a revenue of £ ISA,OOO a year coming in from Crown leases from their small grazing runs and pai(oral leases, and he said unhesitatingly that they could not use that revenue better than by earmarking it for educational purposes. The annual cost of the training Colleges at the four centres would bout feast .022,000, but against that they had of course to set the cost of education of 17,000 or 18,000 cb'ldren, who would be attending, the schools attached to the colleges. lie thought that as further facilities and inducements were provided, the disproportion of mule teachers as compared with female teachers would be some- I wliflt mortified.