Part 12 (1/2)
The Brisbane Technical College has been in existence as a distinct inst.i.tution since 1882. It is only since July, 1905, that the Education Department has been closely a.s.sociated with the administration of technical education. Previous to 1902 technical colleges, with the exception of the Brisbane College, were carried on in connection with schools of arts under the control of local committees, the State subsidising the colleges to the extent of 1 for each 1 paid in fees or subscribed for technical college purposes.
In 1902 a Board of Technical Education was created; the board held office until 1905, when this branch of education was placed under the control of the department, and a special officer was appointed to supervise the work. Endowment is now paid upon a differential scale, the distribution being based on the general and practical utility of the subjects taught, the subsidy ranging from 10s. to 3 for every 1 collected in fees. There were seventeen colleges in operation during 1908. The progress which has been made during the past five years is shown in the following table:--
---------------------+---------------------+---------------- Year.
Number of
Endowment.
Individual Students.
---------------------+---------------------+---------------- 1904
3,600
4,732 4 6 1905
3,892
5,460 4 11 1906
4,321
7,930 13 5 1907
4,702
9,610 4 2 1908
5,187
10,719 12 7 ---------------------+---------------------+----------------
The importance of a highly developed system of technical education has been fully realised in this State, and in 1908 a Technical Instruction Act was pa.s.sed. It provides for the establishment of a central technical college in Brisbane which shall be maintained by, and be under the direct control of, the State. It is intended that this college shall be the recognised technical inst.i.tute of Queensland, and it is hoped that it may ultimately be one of the most important inst.i.tutions of the kind in Australia. The colleges outside the metropolis will be affiliated with the central college, but will remain under local control.
In addition to liberal a.s.sistance to technical education, provision has been made for evening continuation cla.s.ses. These cla.s.ses are to enable pupils who have left school before completing their primary education to continue their education; to a.s.sist persons to obtain instruction in special subjects relating to their employment; and to prepare students for the technical colleges. The cla.s.ses are liberally endowed by the State, and very comprehensive regulations have been framed for their administration, the system being probably the best of its kind in the Commonwealth.
[Ill.u.s.tration: GULF CATTLE READY FOR MARKET]
[Ill.u.s.tration: BRIGALOW COUNTRY, WARRA, DARLING DOWNS]
[Ill.u.s.tration: HEREFORD COWS, DARLING DOWNS]
Schools of arts and reading rooms are also fostered by the State. A grant of 10s. is made for each 1 of subscriptions or donations, but the grant to any one inst.i.tution cannot exceed 150 per annum.
The State subsidises reading rooms at shearing sheds, sugar mills, and meat works to the extent of 1 for 1, with a view to a.s.sisting to provide reading matter, and such suitable recreation games as draughts, chess, &c., for the workers in those industries.
The amount contributed by the State towards schools of arts and reading rooms is 5,000 per annum, and in 1908 there were 181 of these inst.i.tutions.
UNIVERSITY.
The question of establis.h.i.+ng a University has been under consideration from time to time for the past thirty-five years, and more than one Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire into and report upon the subject. In 1874 a commission recommended the immediate foundation of a University. In 1891 another commission was appointed, and made a similar recommendation. For various reasons, however, but princ.i.p.ally financial stringency, no action was taken until September, 1899, when the Government introduced a bill for the establishment of a University. Unfortunately the bill did not become law, and Queensland remained without a University for another decade.
The Government programme for the first session of 1909 included a University Bill, but owing to the untimely dissolution of the a.s.sembly nothing was done in the matter. When Parliament met again on 2nd November, the bill was the first measure proceeded with. Both Houses being unanimously in favour of establis.h.i.+ng a University on modern, democratic lines, it was speedily pa.s.sed, and on 10th December, the jubilee of the foundation of Queensland, Government House was dedicated to the purposes of the University by His Excellency the Governor, Sir William MacGregor, in the presence of a large and representative gathering of citizens. With the State system of primary education established on a sound basis; technical education placed on a firm foundation and progressing steadily; secondary education linked to the other branches, and all leading towards the University, Queensland will have a system of education which will place her on a level with the most progressive of the nations.
PART III.--OUR JUBILEE YEAR.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL REVIEW.
Good Seasons and General Prosperity.--Land Settlement and Immigration.--The Sugar Crop.--Gold and Other Minerals.--Reduction in Cost of Mining and Treatment of Ores.--Vigorous Railway Extension.--Mileage Open for Traffic.--Efficiency of 3 ft. 6 in. Gauge.--Our Railway Investment.--The National a.s.sociation Jubilee Show.