MR. BLIGH'S PURITY CRUSADE. A SUGGESTED APPOINTMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 149, 23 December 1908, Page 3

MR. BLIGH'S PURITY CRUSADE. A SUGGESTED APPOINTMENT.

[DT TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 22nd December. A deputation waited upon Mr. George Fowlds, Minister for Public Health and Education, to-day concerning the work done by Mr. Bligh, a lecturer under the White Cross League. Mr. Parr attached great importance to the work done by Mr. Bligh, who had been lecturing to the elder boys in the public schools of the Dominion. Mr. Bligh dealt with physiology generally, and in a nice, sensible fashion, gave, a needed warning to the elder boys on the necessity lor purity of life. Mr. Parr said that his desire was that Mr. Bligh, who at present was dependent upon private subscriptions, should be appointed an officer under the Education Department to lecture in the sctiooh ol the Dominion. Such an appointment would, he believed, be in the best interest of the morals of the boys. Others spoke to the same eifect The Ministei .said he was glad to hear such testimony regarding the value of Mr. Bligh's work. At the- Same time, he must also tell them that he *aw many ■difficulties in the way of appointing Sir. Eligh under the department. There were specialists of all descriptions pressing their claims to work in different branches of education, and, generally rpcaking, ho %yas rather opposed to the interference with schools that would be involved by a large number of specialists coming into tho diffeisnt schools. He considered that as far as possible they should try to -thoroughly equip the teachers in the training colleges to do all the work required in the Stale schools. He would not say anyLhing definite upon the matter at prosent, but would carefully, consider it in all its L bearings..