TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 192, 27 August 1900, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. FIB PBESS ASSOCIATION.! Wellington, August 25. A deputation waited upon the Premier this morning and placed before him the resolutions passed at the recent public meeting, with respect to making provision for technical education. The Mayor introduced Mr, Brown, President of the Industrial Associations, Mr. A. D. Riley, director of the Wellington Technical Schoo. They urged the advantage of technical instruction, stating that ualess some assistance was given a certain amount of the work would have to be stepped to the great disadvantage of the community. They also urged that the question was a colonial one and that the system had a marked effect upon the conduct of youths engaged in trade. Other speakers followed in a similar strain. Mr. Walker, Minister cf Education, regretted that the Government had not been w,ble to introduce a Technical Bill before this. He hoped to see a Bill introduced shortly and on a system that would not interfere with primary education.

Mr. Seddon said if the colony was to progress there was no doubt the State would have to do mere for technical education than hitherto. We were a long way behind the Mother Country in respect to technical education and the subject had his entire sympathy. It was no fault of the Government that a Bill was not passed years ago, but the measure introduced by the Government had been looked upon with such suspicion that it failed. A Bill dealing with the subject was now ready for introduction, and it provided, amongst ither things, for a subsidy of threepence per head per attendance for general classes, and three halfpence for continuation classes; also for subsidies of 10s in the £ for bequests, and £1 for £ I on contributions, while provision was also made for scholarships,