TRAINING COLLEGE STAFF.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 802, 27 April 1910, Page 6

TRAINING COLLEGE STAFF.

IS IT ADEQUATE? YAGUE MINISTEEIAL ANSWER. Questions affecting the staffing of the Wellington Training College were laid before the Minister for Education yesterday by a.deputation from the Wellington Education Board.

■Mr. Lee (chairman) stated that the principal of the college had represented to the board that the staffing was inadequate. It was suggested that. the. status • of the college should be raised from grade nine to grade ten so that another teacher might be secured. •- ■

The Hon. G. Fowlds, in reply, stated that he looked upon the establishment of the training college as the best thing that had been done from an educational point of view since he' had been in public life. The Department, he conld assure the deputation, were anxious to maintain the college at the highest possible/ point of efficiency. They must bear in mind, however, that the votes for education had been increasing all round and at a very considerable rate. As a result of that increase he- had to hesitate before taking any step that would further add to the cost of even one branch because critics could be found who would point to any section and say that there was room for a saving. . Then, again, last year, when he had to mako small reductions .here and there, there was not a single reduction which he proposed that was not strongly objected to on the ground which, if reduction was necessary, it should be made at every other point than at the one in question. He had therefore to hesitate before making any alterations, but, with that fact in view, he would.give the representations of the deputation the most careful consideration.