NOTES AND COMMENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 224, 5 July 1939, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Jf we look at tlie world realisticallyl at the present time, as Dr. William Brown, the psychologist, in his book, “War and Peace,” we must feel that we are going through a period of apparent, if not real, reaction, a period of retrogression in political affairs. It is the inevitable Nemesis, the result of lack of courage to go forward when possible. If more benevolence of feeling, more generosity of action, more understanding of the human mind, especially the minds of those in defeat, had been exhibited at the end of the last war, we should not now be complaining of the sentimentalism of the one side or the callous ness of the other, nor . facing a new world upheaval, uncertain how best to ride the storm or for what port to steer our course.

REVIVING CRAFTSMANSHIP.

INEVITABLE NEMESIS.

It is. partly bad, partly good news, that the supply of local craftsmen in England is becoming unequal to the demand, writes Sir W. Beach Thomas. The virtual extinction of the apprentice system which survived for a while the end of the guilds, rapidly reduced the number of boys and young men who learned the various crafts. Machine-made work (which includes even the common horseshoe) depressed most of the local crafts, and was thought to threaten their complete extinction; but a number of the crafts —in iron, wood and leather—refused to die, and lately there has been a strong reaction in their favour. Buyers desire handwork. That Saxon word is identical with the Latin word manufacture, but has a quite contrary meaning. This revival of the craft, or at least this revival of a desjre for craftsmen’s work, has been noted in Lincolnshire, among other counties, and special emphasis has been laid on it' by the Lindsey Community Council, which is urging an alternative to the prentice habit. The nation looks after the bright boy, who may extend bis education by aid of a scholarship, and it looks after the mentally deficient, but it does nothing for the boy (and be may bo intellectually 7 slow) who has a native gift for making things; is, in •fact, a creative artist. It is high time that craftsmanship took its place in the curriculum of the elementary school, especially now that the school age is being increased. There is room in the country for a great many more craftsmen. ,