OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 57, 8 March 1907, Page 2

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Si'JiJiCH ii* HON. 0. i'XWLttj, i'er Press Association. Ashburtou, Aliu'ch 7. llie Hop. (j, i-'owids, iilukiater tot Jidueation, visited Ashburlou tortlay. roe .Minister inspected the h.gh tcliool, where it was pointed out the Board desired a large assembly room and science room, and this would necessitate an expenditure of i;3UU in additions to ( the Ijoveniineiil'n grant of XUUO. After inspect, on of tiie plans, •Mr Fowids said he was agreeable to giving the Hoard a free hand in spending Hie money, providing it could liun nee the extens.ons without burdening tiie Government, the e.\uu amount to bit repayable in live years. At tile instance oi the borougn and the school committee, tiie Minister visited a iiveacre block oi land to where it was proposed to shift the school. The liorough Council owned, the proposed site, and was prepared to make an exchange W.tli the present school site on a valuation basis. The Minister said he could not think of paying anything for the site. If the change would be to the advantage of the people of Ashbnrton, the Council should say they were prepared to g.ve the site and take over the pesent site instead as a free exchange. At a luncheon in the Technical .School thi* viands of which were provided by the girls of the ciuikery ciass, the Minister said Unit with.il the past fesv years tliey had done linivvols in New Zealand in the cause of education. Only a generation hence would the people le.i.ise what had been done tnese la.-t few years. The new syl.abns was n revolution in itsc.t, and it was a marvel to him that -Mr llogben, the lnspector-Ueneral, had been able to effect such changes and remain in Irs posiiioii. A generation he,ice the people would look back to 'this time, the last seven or eight years, as au epoch-milking era in the history of education. An immense amount had been done to improve the status of teachers, and thus attract the brightest. intellects among the boys aud girls to the teach ng profession. After referring to the superannuation scheme, the Minister continued that all these things had been done, and at the same time we have created a very extensive system of technical education. Fiveyears ago there was practically no such institution, but a large expenditure had been made, and the growth of technical instruction had been enormous. They bad nt that day's meal evitljuce of what young £ij 8 could do, and he believed that right throughout tiie colony, girls were being taught in the best possible milliner to lit them for the struggle of life. Tiie expenditure could not be continued at 'the same rate, but money would lie iwd to the. best advantage in consolidating the inifcruction, and bringing forth an excellent system. The Minister also performed the ceremony of declaring open the new Salvation Army barracks.