IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

"SOFT OPTIONS." A PROFESSORS VIEWS. (To the Editor.) It appears from the Press report* of th present sessions of the University Com, t that Mr. F. Milner has taken occasi stigmatise as "soft options'* the honour, course in economics, education and historr He maintains that the alleged difficulty], obtaining graduates competent to teach mathematios and science in the secondary schools of this country is due to the seductive influenca of these easier courses. One hesitates which to describe as the more deplorable, the miscon. ception of the nature of University studies, or the misconception of the proper qualification, of a teacher, which these remarks reveal Oa the former point, it should be understood that the honours course represents only one out of several subjects which the graduate has included in his bachelor's degree, being the ons of wnich he has chosen to make a mor, advanced and specialised 6tudy. Mr. Milner believes that the reason why the subjects he mentions are so largely chosen is simplv that in them the prescription of work is lighter. A more careful and thoughtful consideration of the question might lead Mr. Milner to a view less discreditable to the New Zealand student and to the responsible teachers and examiners in these subjects. He might ercn discover that the subjects he stigmatises belong to a group which embodies those inquiries which are most distinctive of t ne work and outlook of a university, and an those most adapted to satisfying the intellectual and spiritual demands oi young people at the university stage. Prom the academic standpoint (making due allowance for essep> lional gifts) all other subjects are subsidiarr only. To sacrifice the human needs to which I refer to a blatant commercialism which demands so much specialised knowledge in this or the other branch as a mere commodity is not only an outrage on human nature, but, from a practical point of view, the height of folly. For, in the second plaoe, the kind -A mechanical specialisation which Mr. Milner advocates is little calculated to promote scholastic efficiency, nor is it well founded in the facts of life. I will go so far as to «ay that it does not matter what subject a man has pursued to the honours stage; if only his mind has been opened and developed as * well chosen honours course can do it for him, then a pass course in any other subject should amply suffice to enable him to teach it in a school, as well as many subjects which he has not studied at the University at aIL I ask anyone who has had a secondary education if he* always learnt most from the teacher who had the highest specialist qualifications. Perhaps Mr. Milner is constrained by the lately fashionable theory that there is no such thing as a general mental training. If so, let Mm be of good heart; this doctrine has been completely exploded. It has by nt.w lost currency everywhere —except in Christchurch! Btit more amazing by far is the attitude of those members of the council who seemed to think that their objections to increasing specie'' »- tion at the University, and their desire for more general culture, are going to be met by such proposals as those of Mr. Milner. W. ANDERSON, I Auckland University Collega GET OUT AND WALK. With a last despairing "cough" the overworked engine of the Auckland City Council 1 * Waikowhai bus came to a stop about a quarter way up the Hillsboro' Hill. A wag at the back of "the bus called out "All out, please." The obliging driver, who had packed the bus to the limit of its capacity in order not to leave intending picnickers to the park on the road, requested all those standing to get out and told them that he would pick them up at the top of the hill. Now, sir, surely this is no credit to our city fathers. I am free to admit that buses recently taken over from various private companies we. in a decidedly bad condition, but it seems ridiculous that from all the buses at their disposal they have not sufficient in reasonable working order to pro* vide an adequate service to this popular weekend resort. This walking up the hill seeme to be the rule and seems to me to be a matter li ■•', should be rectificc immediately. Another complaint for which there is no excuse is th* fact that in the whole lus there were but tw» windows which would open. The others wera warped with the sun and had been in that state for the most part of last week. It was a broiling hot day and the atmosphere in tht bus was stifling. SYSTEM. THE OPIUM WAR. Mr. Hughes contends that the responsibility lor the evils associated with opium in Chin* must be charged upon the consumers. However, little opium was manufactured in China when the British East India Company disposed of their first small venture at Hongkong. The difference in the cost cf production was great, the Chinese article costing 500 dollars a chest, while in the climate of tha Ganges it could be produced for 100 dollars. There was a chance of a large trade with » profit of 400 per cent.. Although the Chinese Government prohibited the sale under the penalties of confiscation and death, the consumption increased- English armed vessels anchored in Canton River and supplied smugglers' boats. The result was the war of IS4O, to force the death-dealing drug upon the Chinese. Later the Emperor of China said: "It is true I cannot prevent the introduction of the flowing poison. Corrupt men will for profit defeat my wishes, but nothing will induce me to derive a revenue from the vioa and misery of my people." JOHX" GUTNIVEX. AUSTRALIAN POETS. A^*>er a ] °sg, bitter and personal erperienea I_ should be sorry to predicate infallibilitv to cither Australian or New Zealand reviewers. But a reviewer, as evervone will agree, should realise, in a flash, if the work of a poet bears the impress of the divine fire, or is inspired by indigestion. The point I stressed is summed up in Lawsons words: "Paterson saw Australia from a squatter's verandah." Your reviewer is in a sad minority when he classes Lawson as "Australia's greatest poet." Lawson is Australia's "most beloved poet-" Lawson lacked technique, and his half-tones are repeatedly crude and unconvincing. But literary work may be flawless in technique, and absolutely correct in constructive minutiae —atid yet be dull, sodden, and banal, and as obvious as an undertaker sitting on a tombstone. I cheerfully admit that 1 credited 1-awson with a po-m }„. didn't write. My only excuse i* that I had just read the "indigestion" quotation, and naturally suffered sufficiently from mental aberrali«n*t<o plaw mv facts ou* of fon,a - HERBERT MULVIHILL.