EDUCATION NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 5

EDUCATION NEEDS

THE TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

A deputation from Ithe Technical School Conference was received by the Minister of Education, Sir Francis Bell, yesterday morning. Tho speakers were Mr. C. H. A. T, Opie (Christchurch)'and Mr. Scott (Dunodin), representing tho boards of management, and Mr. George George (Auckland) and Dr. D. E. Hansen .(Christchurch), representing the directors of technical education, The deputation was introduced by Mr. A. Harris (\Voitemata),'and was attended by a large numbor of members of both Houses. .

Mr. Opio, who claimed that nothing would contribute more towards after-war r'ecomliruction than the placing of technical education upon a satisfactory basis, stated that the main request was that settled 'provision should be made and assured fiuanco provided for buildings and maintenance. The position in regnrd to sites was most unsatisfactory. At the time when endowments for education were set aside there were no suck things as technical colleges, and they wore-suf-fering under the consequent • disability at the present time. Another question was that of representation, upon the boards of management. It bad been . found that under the Act lihis was upon the basis of financial contribution!;. What was desired was that the representation should be upon a more democratic basis, and tart; provision should be niado for the representation of the people in the management of the technical colleges.'. ; . Mr: Scott laid principal stress upon the need for sites for agricultural colleges and training farms. He stated that they were at 'the present time only touching upon the fringes pf agricultural braining. Had they had the facilities they could have done a great deal in the way of training returned soldiers in farm work. They were at present teaching quite a number .of them trades, but their activities in farm draining were restricted : by the lack of equipment. Hostels for the accommodation of students must oventually be Vovidjfl, in which oaso lime farms, if established, could supply them to a very largo extent with produce. The Government at present provided 1 nothing—neither sites nor anything'else.. ' , , Sir Francis Bell: You must not say "lathing." They tako students at the State farms. ■ . Mr. Scott! We contend that this docs not meet our needs. ' ' Mr. George George preferred the request thatli/he Government should make provision'during the coming session for increases in the salaries of the staffs of technical colleges, to compensate for tho increased cost of living. The capitation in day classes was limited to 415 per el'.Adonl per year, while in night classes it was eightpence per hour, those rates wero fixed in 19M, since when the cost of living had risen something lita>• oU per cent What was asked .was that the capitation should this session be increased so as to make more money available for l;ho payment of salaries and for Iho upkeep ot buildings. ' The''Minister interposed that granting that increase lit- salaries- was necessary he did not think that the amount could be equivalet to a 50 per cent, rise, for the reason that when tho cost of living fell it would hardly be possible to reduce salaries. He said further that he did not think that the amendments suggested could be introduced this sossion, Mr George replied that in Kngland increases had been granted by way-of.bonus which could be discontinued should tho cost of living fall. He added that the amendments asked for might bo.introduced this year, even if they-did-not become operatives, so that the machinery might bo constructed for their applies--Hansen asked that provision should be made for the establishment of hostels for the accommodation ot »Jsf,» nicsil colleges, lie said that tho. present system! involving either train rave - -S, or living at boardngliouses, was Secondary schools were, assisted in tluestablishment of hostels, and it was ielt thut the technical, colleges were entitled to tho same sort of' assistance; ■ Ihe need was-more urgent, in that the multipliqation of (the numibcr of. technical schools, with their special'cquip'ment, was a matter ot'difficulty, and they would be confined to the principal centres. It would be necessary for a considerable number of tho pupils to live away from homo, and tho need'for'suitable boarding accommodation would continue. , Sir Francis Bell said that it was a groat temptation to a Minister, when naked for anything, to reply :■ "Leave it to me." He was not going to say anything of the kind. Ho honed that they would all understand that, rightly or wrongly, he was' not going to bring before 'Parliament this session any amendments which would require grave consideration. He was not in a position to tell them what financial provision would bo made for education this session.- Ho hoped that they would know that in a few days. If he remained Minister of Education they could depend upon it that there would be a more elaborate Lducatibn Act for the next Parliament to conaider. Wbnt ho hoped to do was to replace the Education Act of 1877 by tho Education Act of 1920. Informs would bo introduced, while the principle ot ireo, compulsory and secular education wauld be retained'. In a measure, tho deputation was a little late in that the financial provisions regarding education were already settled. He could not give details but ho could say that there would be niore money lor education. Ho might say,'without going beyond .the limibs at present-imposed-upon tiiin,.,that he agreed with tho deputation regarding tho necessity for. hostels. They wero to a certain extent necessary, and their establishment "must come within the scope of the capitation money available. In a word, what they might tako from him was this: He intended to pay* attention to what they had told him. He did not, however, intend to pose as a reformer this session. Finally, he had a-strong sens* of responsibility in regard- to. education- and he. did intend to try-and mako things better. as. fftT as finances would permit