TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 193, 17 June 1903, Page 2

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

PLUMBING CLASSES AT BTtt YTFORD. There wis a representative gathering on Monday evening at Messrs Smart Brothsra' plumbing work?, at Strattqrd, for the foinnl opening of the technical plumbing clasars under the Board of Education. There were pesen 1 ;; Messrs E, G. Allsworth (Ohairmin of the Tiranuki Education Board), Spencer (Education In?pecto-,)\ I'Yull [(member of Edutj&'ion Board), 0. D. Sole (Oh&irimn Stratford School Oomtaittee), E. F. Hemingway (Cove Oierk), J. D. Morison, 0. H. Arndt, G. Sangster, and G. Smart (members Stratford School Committee), P.- F. Haifa (Borough Councilor), H. W. O.imie (Borough Engineer), and other residents, bes'des a i unber of intending pupils. Mr Sole, in introducing the Oba'rmm of the Education Board, said that this was th 3 ft st stage of technic il education in Stratf >rd, end tha 1 ! Mr Al'swortb, seeing the nece si-y fo; teohnical ipstmcthn, had tiken upon himself to autboiise tha iortmtion of thdae c without waiting for a meeting of the Boird.

Mr Alls.vortb, after exprassing the pleasure it afforded him to be present, said that though the e.tablishment of plumbing classes h>d been arranged hurriedly, he had boen ons'dering the matter for some time ( thinking >h it Taranaki children w'ere lcsiog a good deal owing to the ab&'eroe of technical c'assea. Many people wire cf the opinim tint a child's education was fini.h d when ke left school. In rea'ity i* hid only j ist begun They bad sadly neglec'ed the education of children after leaving the prim ry siboo l , and sven now this step had only been tak-'n because the Str.i fo-d and New Plymouth Borongh Councils forced the hands of the Educati n Bard. Of courso the Boaid schemes for establishing technicil school?, and tendais for the heal bulling were now under consideration and would probit lv bj accip'td nesi week, Tmy were doubtless aware thab the bye-laws i ■ New Plymouth and Stra'ford prevented any plumbar from working on sanitary works unle s ha held certain certificates, Bttt there wat no provision for the isui of c rtificate* in Tarantki, and to ob:am these tha men hid to jouney to Wellington. Is wa3 mini festly ui f-iir that th ir Iccil p'umbers shou'd be compel'ed to give place to oth. r trade men wh-n the s ni>ry works were being cons'ruotod. He was very phased that both th) Now Plymouth and Scratfcrd Councils had treated the B > rd Igidsom-ly and signified the'r wil.ingnrss to acept the c-rtifioitss issued by the Bard to succ(ss'ul pupils. It was due to Mr. Smart's energy and generosity : h it the Board hid been embl d to establish the clues 8 now, so tint the men might qi slify them elVds before the miinicipil sini'arv works wero put in hind. If anyone des rved praise it was Mr. Smatt, who had placed his budding and his services a 1; thy Bj rJ's disp sal. If the B 'ard h d had to put t.p a build ing and equip i f -, tho woik wou'd hw> besn beyond th ir m auß. He bsliovod, too, that Mr iSm >.rt was thi oily plumber in Taranaki who was qual fid to give the necetsiry instruc icn. lie hipad that bv-foro long tha Tecbcioal School would b) e r ect;d, when there would be proper accommodation for the vaiious for, besides plu-nbing, there would be taught woodvork, dairying, and drawing. Wi'.h ut bemg able to draw and work from pi ins, a plumber could not be capable of undertaking sanitary works, and must necessarily !oi ) a greit deal of time in doing work, whidh with a plan would b.> qu'te eimplf, It was intended to mike drawirg a speciality, that being the alphite 1 - of technical edusatio.i. In declaring the class op-n, h-j remuked on the high s'iaijdird of primary education in Taranaki, and hopsd to see technical educition occupying the sime I position. Mr Fiull gavd some interesting fac's concernirg the movstia nt to e tabl : sh Technical ScbOolsj and asserted that ouo e6hdol children c did hold tLeii wi' h any in the colooy. Mr Rilfe alto spoke, hopirg tfce class would prjve a euues?, and that Mr Smart's sirvic.s would be reoognised iu th-! future.

Mr Specc r, Inspector, aiid that force of circumstances had necessitated openiog these chssee. Tne present instruction would be in practical plumbing, but under Mr Kendal), Sani'aty In p otor, theoretical teaching would shortly be given. Vo'ea of thinks were pissed to the chairman, member, and inspector of thrElucit'on Board for their presence, also to Messrs Smart; Bros, fof their generosity in placing their buildings and.p'ant, and to Mr G. Smart for placing his services at the disposal of the Bjard,

Mr Al'swortb, in replying, said tint the necessity for these classes was a direct answer to those who sneered at t'ghn'Cil education. There was the same necessity in every walk in lite, joung tradesmen in every line were suffering from want of adequate instruction.

Mr Sao ait, in the course of his reply, said he took a graat interest in having the young plumbers thiroughly instructed, Last winter ha had held classes amongst his employees with beneficial results. His workshops would be avdi'able for class-rooms un>il the Technical School Wf.s completed, and ha would endeavour to ics'ruct th? pupils in all points of tha trade until such time as a p rminent instructor was appointod. The g ithering then dispersed, and tleprae: ical work of the classes co m menced. The roll number for the first evening stood at fourteen.—(Condensed from Bgmont Post.)

Mr AUsworth opened the proceedings by expressing bin pleasure at maetipg for su.h a purpose* andt ferfed to (h) eff r's madß by the E lucation Board From time to time to estab'iah technical eluoitioD. He «p)ke on Boma*bit similar lines to hs rematks at-Sirat-for J, and expressed his pleasure at sec ing auob a lal'ge And representative gathering, which would, he said) greitjy e courage the Board in its efforts. He eplogu d the ass's ancs rendeiel by Mr Smar'-, and declare 1 the class open, af er wt i h he cil td upoa the following g>ntlemen to make a few remarks. His Worship the Mayor expressed hi) pleasure at bsing present on euch an occisioo, and d»velt at tone length on the advaatigea of such cltsse l , and was exceedingly glad to s-e the matter tikeo up, and hoped that other el 109 ?8 would fjllow, and be the means of keepiog numbers of thair yoUog men off the s't\e's of an evanieg,besides | proving bxieficial to them in their particular c Uing. Mr H. Oitey m\da An fij-llent -'petch, expressing bis entire Sjmpithy with rh-i movement, dwell-'ng a*, some length on tbe need of technical education for farmers. He pnoted out sbat the higher values of land meant smaller, holdings and this made it desirab'u th t tv ry sere should be firmed With the greatest skill and kaowledge. Mr W. Biwley, as Chairman of the Obamber of Commerce, expressed his pie -sure at tikiog part in tin oponiog ;f this cla s and referred to the many advantage) which must fcl'ow a thorough course of technical instruotioo.

Mr MacDiarmil expre°s°d the interest felt in the matter of technical education by the High School Board and wished the Education Board every succe-s, and assure! it tin sympathy and a»siata<:ce of High School Qovernnrs. He thought Mr Smart was de.erving of the greatest praiss for the assistance he bad given the Board of Education, and was en'i led to the tbanks rf the community. Mr. Jennir.g', M.U.R , thanked the Chairman for t he invitation to speak, as he was glad of the opportunity of dwell ing oa the advantages of technical education) He printed out that tbe Success of the class depended largely on th« p ipils and he urged upon the youcg men in the p'umbing trade to avail themselves of the opportunity now placed before them. He promised the Education Boird his assistance in its (fl'ortsfo provide a thorough course of technical ins' ruction.

Mr. Spencer, Ohi f Inspector of Schools, briefly outlined the proposals of tho EluottioQ Bsard in the future at B"rat ford and New Plymouth, and said thit la'er on the Education Board would probably aek them to put their sympathy into ths shape of dollars. Mr. G. Smart re'urned thanks for the compliments pud him, and said he hop ad to make the class a success. The establishment of the class was, howeVdr, die to the action of Mr. Alls wort)'* the Chairman of tho Education B-aid, and the Insp ctor, Mr. Spencer; who hid approached him on the matter, as he was miking his o*n arrangements for his own hands. He was, however, a £r?at believer in Techniotl E Juration, and was very pleased to be of assistance to the Board. Mr. E. M. Smith the a moved a hearty vo'o of thanks to the various speakers, and in the course of a short but. forciabli speech, referred to what is now being done at Home in regard to Technical Eduoit'os, and the greit strides made during the last few years, and the enormous advantages of a thorough course of technical instruction in the various industries and arts. He hopsd the diy would soon come when a thoroughlyequipped technical school would be erected on St. Michael's Square. He promised to work wi h and support Mr Joaning* in every effjrt to atsis!; the Eductfion Board in its endeavours to promo'e the cause (f education. Tho Chairman then tlnnked those present for their attendance, and declared the mee'iag closed.

Seventeen members were then enrolled, with the promise of several more on Friday, and the ela c s proceeded with its course of instruction. The work was clearly set out on a blackboard, drawn to srale, and explained in detai> by the instructor before proceeding to practical work. | Before the opening of the olass a number of thoss pre-en 1 : mide an inspection (f the workshop, and expressed themselves as highly pleased with the admirable arrangements m di for the class, and with the lighting and accommodation provided. In fact there 's plenty of accommodation for a much larger number of pupils.