The Daily News SATURDAY, MAY 12. THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8108, 12 May 1906, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, MAY 12. THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

The appeal that is being made by tbe Education Board to the local bodies and High School Board of Governor# for financial assistance towards (he cost of erecting and equipping the proposed technical school is one that should meet with the hearty support of the public. Teohnical education is now so universally recognised as the most valuable of all the methods of mind moulding that it is quite unnecessary to urge the Board's appeal from this point of view. To be of the greatest permanent good, it is desirable that the building should be one on whioh but little future expense would be required, and also that the school should be equipped up to the highest attainable standard, The Government has treated New Plymouth very liberally by granting £3,600 for the building, and it is surely as little as we can do to provide the small sum still required to ensure that the school when erected will be ample for all requirements. Application was originally made to the Education Department for a grant for the erection of a wooden building costing £2,700, and the Minister granted £3,500 on condition that the building be a brick one. Unfortunately 't has been found that £8,770 is required to erect the building. The question of reducing the amount has been considered, but it is found that this cannot be done without detriment to efficiency, stability and general ippearance. As the amount required s so small, we believe it will be found that the Board was well advised in deciding to make an effort to raise the money locally, in order that the building may be in every respect a credit to the district. We understand that the Borough Council has almost persuaded itself that it cannot place a grant on this year's estimates without increasing the rates, but it is to be hoped that the report is ill-founded. Reference to our reading columns will convince the most sceptical that facilities for technical edujation are appreciated in this district, for eyen with the present imperfect arrangement no less than one hundred and twenty pupils are already receiv. ing instruction in the subjects now being taught. In nearly every district n the colony where technical schools liave been established, the local bodies have evinced a realy desire to afford financial assistance, and there is little doubt that the request will be as favorably received here. The suggestion that the local bodies' contributions might bo spread over two years is a Tery good one. By so doing the individual contributions would bo so trifling as not to inconvenience the financial position of any of the bodies concerned. As to the money that will be required for equipment, there should be no difficulty in raising ample by private subscription, were such an appeal to be uiade. It is to be hoped that the present opportunity of providing an up-to-date technical school in New Plymouth will not be lost, for there i no doubt that the public will support any proposal to divert a small proportion of the rates to so desirable a purpose.