TECHNICAL EDUCATION GRANTS.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1196, 30 November 1901, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION GRANTS.

Poor Auckland !

ANOTHER flagrant instance of the Government's persistent neglect of Auckland has just tmuspirtjti. Thiß time it is not a question of Railways, but of Education. It seems as if, having, determined to keep us without facilities for our physical progress, th*j Cabinet has equally made up its mind to keep the minds of our children at a standstill, at least so far as technical education is concerned. This branch of mental culture is but the corollary of the more elementary instruction and by the exercise of any undue parsimony or, what is worse, by absolutely refusing to assist, in promoting techinical studies, the earlier branch becomes stultified and made of no effect, or, to be more correct, deprived of much of its value. During the session before last the House authorised a scheme under which bonuses might be granted to public schools in which the committee desired to supplement the ordinary subjects with technical instruction.

Buildings were to be provided, where necessary, for the purpose, and furnished with the necessary apparatus. Also, the cost of teachers for such special subjects was? to be defrayed by the Government. In addition to this, there was to be monetary assistance. There are at the present moment several schools in full swing under this scheme —we instance Nelßon anu Hawke's Bay schools. But from one of the largest Aucklano schools the proper application was put in through the Board, but was met with a refusal to allow any grant whatever. We are not acquainted with the reasons for this rebuff, if, indeed, there are any. On the face of it, there is no reason for refusing a request from this province any more than there is from the two provinces above mentioned and others we know of.