WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 8

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

POINTS FROM THE PRESS.

" A.G.S."

Enumerating the deaths of authors —poets and novelists, as well as travellers like W. H. Hudson and Charles Doughty—sine© the war, an English writer has expressed a doubt whether, in the past, literature has ever sustained losses as heavy in any similar length of time. In a narrow field even the Australian losses have been tragic when we remember Henry Lawson, Christopher Brennan, J. Ie Gay Brereton and David McKee Wright, all gone the unreturning way. Mr. A. G. Stephens, whose death is reported from Sydney, was hardly of their order, but in the struggling domain of letters of two young countries he held during many years a place of his own. He was'a grand pundit of Australian and New Zealand literature. There had been noire before —though there had been, and no doubt still are, in Melbourne and Sydney, coteries —and there has been none since. For a thousand, youthful aspirants whom he encouraged, "A.G.S.'s" opinions on creative letters were the last word of criticism and of incentive. His influence was wielded through the "Red Page" of the Sydney "Bulletin/' which he edited, and which was the "Bulletin" in those days, for no small number of its readers. Archibald, who was editor-in-chief, leaned most himself towards the literary side of his j'ournal, but the budding writers did not know him, usually, except through dedications of their works which were made to him by their eiders and superiors such as Lawson. Known to them was "A.G.5.," whom they both feared and revered. When the articles from his pen which had most impressed tliem were gathered together and republished, as long ago as 1904, under the name "The Red Pagan," that book was likewise dedicated "to J. F. Archibald." The "Bulletin" published and assisted to publish other books, chiefly garnerings of new verse, which Stephens edited, sometimes, as in the case of Barcroft Boake, with a long introduction which settled the place of the tvriter. By that kindness also — for to merit he was magnificently kind —the circle of his influence was increased. It was his pride to have edited and produced more than two dozen books of Australian verse- and more than one dozen books of Australian prose. He described himself as "author, playwright, lecturer, literary critic, Press correspondent, publisher." A tingling vitality, a superb confidence and boldness, were, or seemed to be, the great merits of "The Red Pagan." But what counted for audacity thirty years ago moves not a pulse to-day; the vitality may have been only a prickly heat. "A.G.S." may have done well enough for his age in being the cause of much literature in others. Dunedin "Evening Star." • » • • PLAYGROUNDS FOR CHILDREN. The plea that Mr. H.,G. Ell makes for the provision of playgrounds for children in crowded areas will find a great deal of support. An authority discussing the question lately in the "Municipal Journal" laid it down .that the minimum recreation ground requirement for suburban residential districts was 10 per cent of the total area, but in districts densely populated there should be reserved for playgrounds not less than five acres for every thousand people. The only city in the Old Country, it seems, that complies with the standard is Leeds, with acres for every thousand people. These standards, it should be remembered, have been worked out for the old cities of "England, where playgrounds commonly have to be created by clearing slum areas, and they do not apply to a young country like New Zealand, where the fullest provision can be made for recreation in suburban areas. Here we could safely aim at a standard even of ten acres to every "thousand people. Christchurch. is commonly supposed to be well provided with parks and playgrounds, but the point is that there are in the city various crowded areas where open spaces are badly needed; and it is to these areas that Mr. Ell is" referring. In any case, our provision for recreation is not greatly in excess even of the limited standard requirements adopted for the Old Country.—" Christchurch Times." «• ♦ ♦ • * •» •• THE CONTROL OF EDUCATION.

It/is to be hoped that the appointment of a successor to Mr. T. B. Strong, when he relinquishes shortly the office of Director of Education, will be that of a man who by reason of his ability, attainments and variety of experience will command the respect both qf all classes of educationists and of the public. Mr. Strong has done good work during his term of _ office and has never spared himself. His reputation is that of a man who has put the maximum of effort into his work. One disability under which he suffered was that he was a local product with no very extensive experience abroad. A local man, unless of quite unusual calibre, is rather overawed by his political superintendents. Politicians "cojisult" a director from abroad; they "instruct" a man who has grown up amongst them. Unless there is some overpowering reason for appointing a man from the existing, inspectorial service; applications should be called for abroad as well as at-home. Mr. Masters, however, is probably right in desiring that the administration of education should be under business control. Perhaps lie will consider a proposal that is now being examined in Victoria, where the population is little more than that of this country, to appoint not a director but. a permanent commission consisting of the chief secondary inspector, the chief primary inspector, and one other person. The total extra cost of "this would not be more than a few hundreds per annum, and the expectcd saving in the handling of three millions might easily in one year more than pay the-little extra expense. There is a great deal to be said for this scheme. Education is growing both in bulk and in technicality. In New Zealand it has become too much for any one man to supervise, particularly when he has to oversee all phases of it and participate as well in university administration. Even the administrative. part alone is likely to be too much for. a Minister who has varied political duties to distract him, and the danger always exists that he may be at the mercy of the permanent head. Thus administration by the Minister may become only a phantom, except when a reduction of the annual appropriation is required. The idea_ of a commission of three deserves earnest attention. —" Otago Daily Times." (April 26.)