THE LATE MR. R. J . SEDDON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 433, 16 February 1909, Page 7

THE LATE MR. R. J . SEDDON.

;;'■: MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED. (BY TKLEGUAPH—F2ESS ABSOCIITION.V !- , . Christohuroh, February 15. . The. ceremony of unveiling' a memorial tablet to ,the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon in the Seddjn Memorial Hall of Christckurch Technical College, was performed to-night bv Mrs. W. S. Dean, eldest daughter of Mr. Seddon. The Hon.. G. Fowlds delivered an address, in which he eulogised the work done for education by Mr. Seddon,- referring especially to the, institution'of free places in secondary schools and 'to the establishment system of technical instruction.' .Referring , to the domestic-servant trouble,; the Minister expressed "the, opinion that .employers who ■had domestic help could '.assist in the matter of ensuring efficient' domestic instruction'by giving thoir, domestics time off,'without loss of pay, to attend technical classes; which every authority controlling technical instruction had power, .to esiablish. :,:' .': 1 The Hon. D. Buddb, : responding to the vote of thanks on behalf, of Mr; Fowlds, who had to. leave. bef ove ■'th'o'conclusion of the function to.keep,. : another engagement, said.that ho' .believed that tlio time,must very soon cqmo. when compulsory technical education must, be, the law' of .• tho land. 'The present in stitution might not be -.sufficient to provide tho necessary accommodation, but that would be forthcominK'if the people demanded it. Ho supported his contention by arguing that people'- of the Dominion must develop their industrial resources in tho most economic and scientific manner. They did not want always k> be.dependent on Europe and America for industrial' products, ancl our own , make was tho best brand they, could get... ', •'