MINISTER OF EDUCATION

Auckland Star, Issue 38, 14 February 1929, Page 8

MINISTER OF EDUCATION

VISIT TO OTA MI'III

The Hon. M. At more. .Minister of Kducation. paid a. visit to the Otalnihu Public School \ estonlay att,'rnoou. being met by the Mayor and town clerk, the member for the district (Mr. A. Mall) and members of the school committee. The Minister manifested a keen interest in thi> pupils and visited every class.

The chairman of the committee (Mr. K. Pctric). whilst not asking l'or anything from the Department, stressed the evidence of overcrowding in the school, and pointed out that the attendance was increasing at the rate of 40 pupils per year. To combat this a high school or secondary school in the district was desirable. During the past six years the committee had spoilt £:!()(ill on ground improvements, half of the total being raised by local effort.

The Minister, in reply, said the Government was fully seized with the needs of education, on which the sum of U4.000.000 per \ea r was being e\-

pended. Me did not favour any reduction in this amount. As one result of an admirable ,-ystem of education 1 In* New Zealand bov of I.~> was the best in the world. ]le repeated his previous statements regarding more progressive development of the land to find employment for the 19.0011 children leaving our schools everv Year. !

A vote of appreciation of the interesting address was carried by acclamation on the motion of Mr. A. Hall, M.P.

RADIO CLUB.

AUCKLAND MOVEMENT

LAUNCHED

ASSISTANCE TO BEGINNERS. CO-OPKRATIOX URt;KD. Initial steps in tlio formation of a radio club in Auckland uiTc lakfii ai llic nice! in;: iicid in i ] u . |~\s lii-i ii utr. I'oiisonby, hi-; ~\iMiin.-. Mr. ||. A. fail ma ii. win, piv.-idcd. defined the propo-ed objects .11' ill,, (.-lull. I lie ci m \ cner-. In* -aid. had in mind a society 111 ;i t \\«>u |il foster and enculirat li.- «i1• 11,|>111,■ i;t of radio broad- <•!!-; ti 11 and listening-in. It was hop;':! in.'ike ii'i'i'i'-ciita I ion- to tin. broadcast in>r con pa n v ivLNirdinv the prouianime and hours oi laoadc ast inn. and. • 1 1< >ra 11 \-. to co-operate wilii the liroa ili-a si i a in horit ies. -Mr. K. 1". JSurrcll said that tlie society voind have much value to beginners in assisting them to build their own sets by a small workshop and bv the use of simple tools. Mr. J. .Jones considered an active radio society would do much to encourage juveniles and to spread an interest in radio in Auckland city and province. A desire to co-operate with listenersin was expressed by Air. Haydeji. director of the Radio broadcast injj Company, who supported the movement tor the formation of a society. A resolution to lorm a radio club was moved by .Mr. !•'. Hammond and carried, subject to the approval of a later meeting. He said there was much need of an organisation for listeiis-in, and it was essential to put broadcasting on a better footing. -Mr. ]1. 13. Artlnir ur«ed a biir cH'orl to increase the number of listeners, and deplored the fact that there had been an increase of only eijiht hundred last year, the total liein;* now about ] 4.500. A working cotinnittce was elected to draw up rules and a constitution to be submitted to a further nieelini:.