50 Position of Belfast in Relation to Technical Instruction. 



Secretary and Mr. Horace Plunkett. Assuming that it was 

 formed, Mr. Gray expressed the opinion that it could not set 

 before it a higher or better aim than to fully realise that form 

 of a technical instruction institute suggested by the composite 

 committee that met during the Mayoralty of Sir James Haslett, 

 M.P., in 1887, which proposed to establish " a central institution 

 for the teaching in a combined form of art, science, and 

 technology, as applied to the trade and manufacturers of the 

 district, utilising and combining so far as possible for this 

 purpose the school of art, schools of science and technology, 

 and the technical school." A full definition of what was meant 

 by the expression *' technical instruction " was given, and the 

 views of many well-known authorities quoted. Proceeding, 

 Mr. Gray said they could not do better than to provide without 

 delay a central institution in which our present excellent Art, 

 Science, and Technological classes may be properly and com- 

 fortably housed, with ample space, class-rooms, laboratories, 

 and lecture-rooms, equipped with all necessary fittings and 

 appliances of the most approved kinds, and conducted by a 

 staff of specially qualifitd teachers for each department of the 

 work, capable of rendering teaching assistance or advice to any 

 school or class in the city. Thus appointed, together with 

 bright, cheerful, and attractive surroundings, they might fairly 

 calculate that the 1,500 pupils now receiving instruction in 

 their local art, science, and technological classes would be in- 

 creased to not less than 3,000 in the i. ear future, with a promise 

 of proportionate advantage to our local industries. Enlisting 

 into their educational scheme every available auxiliary, they 

 should extend and should complete the intended Technical 

 Museum and Art Gallery connected with the Public Library, 

 and every function connected with that institution should be 

 subordinated to the purposes of technical instruction in its 

 widest and most liberal aspects, and placed under the manage- 

 ment of the composite technical committee, and conducted by 

 them as part of the Technical Instruction Scheme for the city.* 



*The County Borough Council have joined the Library Committee and the Technical 

 Instruction Committee into one Committee. 



