HANDICRAFTS & ARTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1881, 15 October 1913, Page 8

HANDICRAFTS & ARTS.

IN TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

DO THE ARTS CLOG UTILITY?

Whether the attention given to art is too great at tho Technical School ,or not has figured as a matter of some public interest lately. In this connection quite an interesting paper was read at last night's meeting of tho Wellington Industrial Association, b.v Mr. Seaton, whoso subject was "Industry v. Art in our Technical Colleges." Mr. Norwood presided over a fairly largo attendanco.

Mr. S. S. Williams having written declining tho vice-presidency of the association, Mr. H. Head was_miauimously elected to tho vacancy. Tho president and Mr. H. Read were drawn by ballot to visit tlio Technical College, and Messrs. Thompson, M'Clay, and T. Ballinger were drawn to visit somo industry. Mr. Seaton's Paper. Mr. Seaton then read his paper on "Industry v. Art in our Technical Schools." Ho started out by asking the following questions with regard to local technical education: Are tho Government and tho people getting tho best value for the money expended? Are tho teachers as capable as ono has a right to expect in tho positions they occupy? Is the syllabus being carried out as published? Is tho discipline all that could be desired in a school with many hundreds of students? Is industry being starved at the expense of art, or vico versa, and further, is tho right art being taught, or are many hundreds of pounds being spent on art fctichism which will be neither of use nor ornament to the future career of our boys and girls? Proceeding, he submitted that tho artistic temperament was undoubtedly festered and developed by judicious and capable teaching of art, but it was questionable whether it was wise to devote many hours daily to so-called art subjects, which were distasteful, and did not appeal to tho student's temperament. It would bo unfair not to give praise to the handicrafts and commercial sections of our schools. That of electrical and mechanical engineering, chemistry, carpentry, plumbing, and tho commercial classes were no doubt doing a great work, and would continue to reflect credit in tho future on the director, the instructors, and the scKolars alike.. The equipment of tho me- , chanical engineering shops, and drafti iiig office is good, but, I understand, is ' inadequate for tho large number of students ; but, in the opinion of experts, that of the electrical department was not worth £150, much of which was antiquated and out of date; and tho instruments, or mfiny of tliem, had no real valuo outside of a museum, tho consequence being no matter how good the instructors, only a theoretical, and not a practical knowledgo, could bo obtained. Much' information may bo gleaned from the Education Department's report for the year ending 1912, in which the number of day technical Scholars in New Zealand were proportioned as followslndustrial, 377; commercial, 775; domestic, 256; art, 13. . Wa> it possible to get a return of the following-details of the art classes: —First, a description of tho various art classes designated strictly art and art crafts; (2) tho numbor of instructors, their designation, salaries, hours, and duties; (3) the number of students in each class whoso ostensible object is to earn their livelihood by tho prosecution »>f tlieso studies in art and art crafts; (4) the total cost of material and its nature; (5) an estimato of tho number of students who are known to bo earning their living (apart from, teachers) by means of these subjects. ~ And was it possible to get a return undor similar heads for tho commercial, building, plumbing, engineering, and electrical classes? If art was so necessary to the trade handicraftsman, how was it that both in Britain, Germany, and America there were so many purely trade schools in existence, being entirely disassociated from art? He asked all tflio were interested in technical education to carefully study the Education Department's returns, and see the extraordinary difference in numbers of tho various grouped divisions of technical training' in this Dominion, their costs, capitation, and number of students. They had only to visit tho electrical engineering, plumbing, or carpentry shops in this city to get an idea of tlio large number of boys who were earning a living directly from tho knowledgo they had gained in our technical schools.

Interesting Discussion. The president, in' expressing the thanks of tho meeting, said Mr. Seaton was of opinion that of the money available for technical education, too much was spent on art, at the expense of what was purely technical and commercial training, though somo of thcin may disagree, with him. He agreed that if .tlio Dominion was to maintain its status they must plant their ladder on education. From what he had seen at tho Training College, he was of opinion that it was difficult to draw tho line as to wliero art could be dispensed with. Mr. H. .Shaw remarked that that association had mado many sacrifices to help tho Technical School, and had gono without their annUal dinner for soveral years with that object. Mr. ltead: And have been hungry over since. (Laughter.) The President (to Mr. Shaw): You don't look any thinner. Mr. Shaw added that ho thought art was a grander thing than it had beon made out to, bo, and that it had a greater effect upon their industries. If pupils did not earn their living by art alono that did not prove that tho teacfling was of no value. Art knowledge helped them to be better mechanics. He did not think arts and crafts could be separated. A great deal of the value of art was abstract, as it had a great influonco on citizens, especially on tho rising generation who attended the Technical School.

Mr. Mantel! agreed that the syllabus wanted thoroughly overhauling, as it imposed labour which was not necessary.

Mr. Partridge remarked that the commercial sido of life had been given too much prominence to in the Dominion, and especially in Wellington, as otherwise they would have had better homes than the present square boxes in which most people lived, and they would have had better streets. They should strive for something above commercialism, and art was a long way above it. Tho result was that Wellington, which had one of the best sites possible, was laid out in a slipshod way, buildings being dumped down anywhere in any stylo. Thoy were now trying to rectify that in tho widening of their streots, but at what a cost? Their architects were better trained, and tho Bank of New Zealand building eclipsed all tho buildings in its vicinity, and was a credit to Wellington. With more such buildings they would have had better people, better recreation grounds, and better health—all tho result of artistic training. Mr. W. S. La Trobc, of the Technical School, remarked that artistic training was essential in every branch of life if tho work was to bo commercially successful. After showing tho value of artistic training in various trades, the speaker spoko of tho commercial asset of a good appearance, which al-, ways went a great way towards success. He emphasised the value of lengthy study, contending that jt was a waste of time, unless enough time was devoted to it. Mr. La Trobo then gave a rosumo of the work done at the Technical School.'