TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1919, Page 5

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

NEEDS PLACED BEFOUE THE MIXISTEfi. Wellington, Last Night. Matters affecting technical education were placed before the Minister of Education by a deputation from the Technical Schools Conference. The speakers were Messrs Opie (Christchurch) and fecott (Dunedin), representing the boards of management, and Mr. George (Auckland) and Dr. Hansen (Christchurch), representing the directors of technical education. The speakers explained their main requests were that a settled provision should bo made and assured finance provided for buildings and maintenance. Another request was that of representation upon the boards of management, which it was desired should he upon a more democratic basis, so that the people would have more say in the management of technical colleges. The deputation asked that sites should be provided for agricultural colleges and, training farms, for the lack of facilities in this direction was handicapping the country. Increases in salaries were essential, and it was also desirable that hostels should be provided for students Sir Francis Bell, in reply, said he had no intention of bringing down this session amendments to education by Parliament. The deputation, however, could depend upon it that the next Parliament, should he remain in his present position, Would have a more elaborate Act to deal with, and those interested would have an opportunity of considering it before it came dawn. He agreed that hostels were needed, and said that boards of managers should he given power to spend a portion of their capitation in securing them. He had a strong sense of his responsibilities as Minister of Education, and he intended to improve matters as far as the finances of the country would permit.