MISLEADING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 113, 16 May 1927, Page 9

MISLEADING.

A MODERN GEOGRAPHY BOOK.

A MODEST FIVE SHILLINGS' WORTH A perusal of a modern geography book issued to secondary schools in Wanganui entitled "A Junior Geography of the World, B. C. Wollis," or "Macmillan's Practical Modern Geographies," discloses the following inaccuracies: "In Japan earthquakes are so frequent that houses are only lightly built and of single storey; stone is rarely used. In Wellington, New Zealand, the houses and other buildings are built similarly for the same reason." Here is another beauty: . "But the obstacles of human progress due to volcanoes do not end with the eruption; volcanic areas, which are shown in figure 13, usually provide poor harvests. In central France and in the North Island of New Zealand the soil is infertile because it consists mainly of volcanic material." Incidentally, figure 13 is shown in the same book on an adjacent page marked "V." In order to show that the author of the book is sincere in his belief, he has placed a "V" against the whole of the North Island. What would some of the farmers of Westmere sriy to this, or those of the fertile valley of Turakina or Wangaehu, to say nothing of farmers further north and south? (asks the Wanganui "Herald.") If the educational authorities who are paid, and paid well, to do the job, have not sufficient time, it is high time that they delegated the job to an intelligent committee of laymen to review the school books, and see that they do not contain misleading statements of the nature referred to. This book is being brought under the notice of the Minister of Education, and, although it may mean more expense to parents next year, no doubt he will take care to enlighten the Education Department to the extent that correctness in education 'detail is most essential. There are reputable printing firms in New Zealand and capable journalists who could provide much mere accurate school books, and at a cheaper cost to parents than many of those now being imported.