NOT CINDERELLAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 6

NOT CINDERELLAS

POSITION OF TECHNICAL COLLEGE HON. H. ATMORE’S ATTITUDE “Technical colleges shall not be the Cinderellas of the education system, as tho past,’* said the Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of Education, when addressing the staff and pupils of the Seddon Memorial College yesterday afternoon. “I would like to see a number of you go on the land,” he continued. In a short time some of the best land in the Dominion will be thrown open for settlement, and you will be able to go on the land with better chance of success. I want to see education in New Zealand less dominated by academic attainment, and with more of a bias for the future life. A bias for agricultural pursuits is required ” Later tho Minister discussed with tha board the provision of a new technical college at Otahuhu. Mr. H. S. W. King, chairman of the board, said the accommodation at the college was almost entirely taken up, and future applications must be refused unless an additional school was provided. A new site at Otahuhu had been obtained by the department, but its purpose was not yet decided. There was also the necessity for obtaining ground at Otahuhu for the agricultural classes intended to be conducted by the college. The Minister replied that the whole question of a new school and the provision of ground for agricultural purposes was bound up in the decision as to the future of post-primary education in the Dominion. A decision in this respect might be expected shortly. Tho provision of a heating scheme for the college before the advent of the winter months was urged b.y Mr. King. The Minister promised to again place the matter before Cabinet.