THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8375, 8 March 1907, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

By Telegraph—Press Association. ASHBURTON, March 7. The Hon. Mr Fowlcls, Minister of Education, visited Ashburton to-day. The Minister inspected the High School, where it was pointed out that the Board desired a large assembly room and science room, and this would necessitate the expenditure of £3OO in addition to the Government graniof £6OO. After an inspection of the plans, Mr Fowlds said that he was agreeable to giving the Board a free hand in spending the money providing it could finance the extensions without burdening the Government, the extra amount to be repayable in five years.

At the instance of the Borough School Commitee the Minister visited a five-acre block of land to whereat was proposed to shift the school. The Borough Council owned proposed site, and was prepared to make an exchange with the present site of the school on a valuation basis.'". The Minister said he could not think of paying anything for the site. If the change be to the advantage of the people of Ashburton, the Council should say they were prepared to give the site, and take over the present site instead as a free exchange. At a luncheon in the Technical School, viands for which were provided by the girls of the cookery class, the Minister said that within the past few years they had done marvels in New Zealand in the cause of education. Only a generation hence would people realise what had been done during these last few years. The new syllabus was revolution in itself. A good deal of. hostility had been manifested towards the syllabus, and it was a marvel to him that Mr Hogben had been able to effect such changes and remain in his position. An immense amount had been done to improve the status of teachers and thus attract the brightest intellects among boys and gir.'s to the teaching profession. After referring to the superannuation scheme the Minister said that all these things had been done, and at the same time we have .created a very extensive system of technical education. Five years ago there was practically no such institution, but a large expenditure had been made, and the growth of technical instruction had been enormous. They had at that day's meal evidence of what young girls could do, and he believed that right throughout the colony girls were being taught in the best possible manner to fit them for the struggle of life. Expenditure could not be continued at the same rate, but money would be used to the best advantage in con-** solidating the instruction and bringing forth an excellent system. The Minister also performed the ceremony of declaring open the new Salvation Army Barracks.

€ABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright,