262 ESSEX AND THE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION ACT.
aid, both in money, specimens, and assistance by the Club and its members, the
scheme being really complementary to the existing work of the Club.
The property of the Club will be placed in the hands of Trustees ; and it is
submitted that the period of the lien of the County Council upon the building
and fittings, in consequence of the grant for the Laboratory and Class-room, should
be the same as that of the Science and Art Department, viz., five years. The
management of the classes would be in the hands of a special committee or com-
mittees, appointed by the Council of the Club, but not necessarily chosen from
the members, which committee or committees would have control over the ap-
paratus during the continuance of the grants, and the Council of the Club would
undertake, on its part, to carry out the above stipulations also during the continu-
ance of the grants.
The Council claims that the scheme above set forth is of a wide-reaching
character, embracing the whole county and not any particular district; that it
will supplement in a very useful way the work of existing educational centres ;
and that it is calculated to be particularly serviceable in those districts not provided for
by urban educational institutions. It has been formulated under the advice of
some eminent practical educators ; it is in accordance with the recommendations
of the "National Society for the Promotion of Technical and Secondary Educa-
tion," and above all, it is perfectly workable, provided sufficient funds are avail-
able for the purpose.
It is not asked that the grants for building and fitting of Laboratory and
Class-room be actually paid over until the fund for the Museum has been raised ;
but, pending that event, the teaching and lecturing operations could be begun and
carried on by the existing machinery of the Club in premises now in its occupa-
tion, or which could be rented for that purpose.
For the Council,
Buckhurst Hill, Essex, WM. COLE, Hon. Secretary.
December, 1890.
V.—ESSEX AND THE TECHNICAL
INSTRUCTION ACT.
[The following article appeared as a "leader" in "Nature" for February
12th, 1891. It is gratifying as a proof of the approbation of the most important
scientific journal in England, and it is inserted here as giving a fair example of
the favourable opinions expressed by many capable scientific educators on the
scheme submitted by the Council of the Club.—Ed]
"THE distribution of the funds placed at the disposal of the
various County Councils, in accordance with the Technical
Instruction Act of 1889 and the Local Taxation Act of 1890, is
now engaging attention throughout the country, and it is widely
recognised by those who are responsible for the proper administration
of these funds, that the money cannot be better spent than in further-
ing the cause of technical education with special reference to the