Technical Education.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

Technical Education.

A HOLD-UP AT AUCKLAND. The Premier's refusal to place £15,000 upon the Estimates for a new technical school for Auckland and his reply to a deputation from the Auckland Education Board that he would subsidise any amount up to £2500 raised locally for the purpose by £2 for every £l, were referred, to in strong terms of disappointment at a meeting of the Board last week. The director, Mr George Gtorge, in the course of a vigorous speech, said that when he was appointed to his present position he was made to understand that all he had to do was to organise the institution and that there would be plenty of money available for the purpose. On his arrical here from London, however, he found that the institution which he had to take charge of was a wretched, o'd, ramshackle building with 30 students. Since then (nearly three years ago), matters had rapidly improved, until now, when there were 700 students attending, and he had had to turn fully 100 students away from lack of room. The Board itself, he realised, had done every-1 thing ill its power to help him. but the Government would do nothing. For a suitable building £15,000 was required, and in order to get this a deputation from the Board waited upon the Premier recent'.y with a view to getting a grant for that amount. As they were aware, the Premier's only offer was to give £2 for every £1 up to £2SOQ raised for the purpose. He (Ms. George) considered that this was grossly unfair, especially when in Wellington only a few weeks ago they were given £3500 by the Government without a single penny being subscribed, and when Wellirgton already possessed technical school buildings which had cost £13,000, and nearly all of this had been pnb'ic money. Tlie'remark which was passed by the P'remier when he (Mr George) asked for £15,000 was a cheap kind of insult. Turning to the InspectorGeneral, lie said, " I suppose he is asking for this £15.000 to be spread over 15 years!" "Well." continued Mr George, "I wish to say, with all due respect- to the Board, I don't feel inclined to stay on lieie in Auckland for more than a few months under the present condition of things." The Board had done everything possible, while he himseif hnd interviewed numerous men of influence and money, but they would not do anything. He could not do more than he had done, and after carefully con-

sidering the matter he wished to sav that unless the Government did something soon to provide a suitable building lie would at the end of the year send in his resignation. giving them six months' notice. Mr Bagnall said that there was now upon the Estimates an item of £6OOO for the Victoria College in Wellington, where thev had a building which had been, recentlv erected at a cost of £20.000 or £30,00 C. And yet this £6OOO was for the purpose of completing the grounds and appliances! The first thing the Government should give consideration to in this city was technical education. University education was verv desirable, but in the interests of the community technical education should be fostered first, and he fe>. that Auckland had not had fair play. Mr C. J. Parr said the whole of the educational system of the colony was in the hands of the Government and the people were therefore entitled to say to tliem, " If you are going to educate the people at all, you must not do it by halves, but vou must do it- properly and* attend to technical education as we\l as other branches." One member spoke to the same effect and a resolution was carried on the motion of Mr Parr asking the local Members to trv to obtain a grant, of £15,000 for a technical school at Aucliland.