IN THE PUBLIC MIND. BACKWARD CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 127, 31 May 1935, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND. BACKWARD CHILDREN.

WORK IN AUCKLAND

(To the Editor.)

With reference to tho letter in the issue of Saturday last on tlie subject of the backward child, signed by P. H. Meuli,- may X state tliat a society—the Institute for the Caro of Backward Children—has been in existence in Auckland for nearly two years? Our first eighteen months' experience has been held by the Auckland Education Board to justify, the provision of a school and a teacher, so that we are able to hold classes daily from 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. for those children who are too backward to attend the already existing "retardates' classes" in the public schools, or even the kindergartens. Since we have been established in Belgium Street School our numbers have increased, o and we are able to notice a marked improvement in the condition of the children, both physically and mentally. An institution such as ours ' has a twofold value. In the first place, the children's retarded intelligence is developed through proper education suited to their capacity. In the second, it is a valuable source for the discovery of the causes of mental defect, of which causes gland disease is but one. Pressure of the brain, malnutrition, various pre-natal conditions, and many other reasons may lead to mental defect- the true cause is yet to be found. P. g. Meuli says that "the parents who have produced one child of this type have a tendency to produce others"; but this is by no means a general truth. . We have so often found that the greatest tragedy of these poor children is that their brothers and sisters are so frequently ahove the average in intelligence. We are always very glad to hear from people who are interested in our work, although, for very obvious reasons, our school cannot he open to ordinary visitors. May I advertise our institute to the extent of saying that we shall bo very pleased- to advise parents who have children who would profit by instruction in our school, admission to which is entirely free? F. M. WADDINGHAM, Hon. Secretary, Institute for Care of Backward Children, Belgium Street. TRADE WITH EUROPE. In your issue of the 15th inst. Mr. W. J. Pirie flatters me by noticing my tenacity in advocating new markets, including the huge ones in "new" Europe, but he misses, unfortunately, the main point. It is necessary to make it, therefore, absolutely and intelligibly clear, once, and for ever. Never and nowhere, for years when I was trying to beat down the inertia resistance of the citizen, was I suggesting to substitute, to countervail or to replace the national market in Britain by any other in the wide world. This is impossible, and this is glaringly distorting my idea of expansion to Europe, and elsewhere, to dispose of the excess only of our exportable produce. Our idea in New Zealand is the belief that the way we do things is the only proper way to do them. However, much as I agree with Mr. Pirie. that we made a great blunder in trying to dictate prices to Tooley Street, I think we are now doing a greater one by forcing at all costs upon Britain alone the whole of our output. The market in Britain is definitely overworked. It should be supplied with exactly the volume it demands and requires. Our duty is to see and to find out new outlets for our surplus left (after fully satisfying the demand in Britain), unless we prefer to dump it into the ocean or to distribute it amongst the unemployed. It is no use to tell us that Britain is buying, and will buy, all our produce at satisfactory prices, because she will not. She is paying the lowest prices in the world. And that she offers a free market, because she does not. Levies, quotas and duties are already imposed upon our imports into Britain, and very soon even our butter will pay Customs higher than those ruling in certain countries in Europe, China, India and America. One trouble with these arguments, directed against the trade with Europe and the rest of the world, is that they have some truth in them. This truth, based on the fact that we are a Dominion of Britain and have the finest national sentiment towards the land of origin, makes them persuasive. The fact that it is at most a half-truth, and hence wholly misleading, does not diminish this persuasiveness. The whole truth, as usual, is complicated, so those who tell it are ignored. ALEXANDER S. TETZXER. BRITAIN AND EUROPE. "H.G.P." considers that the secession of any Dominion from the Empire in the event of war would be unthinkable. Such optimism is unwarranted. During the last war rebellions broke out in South Africa and Ireland, and the viewpoint of the rebels of those days has largely triumphed since then. The Irish Free State came into existence as the result of a guerilla war against the British authorities, a conflict ferociously waged on either side; and in South Africa the first Hcrtzog Administration carried out a peaceful revolution which raised the Afrikander to a level of equality with the Britisher. In the event of another war there would bo no German South-West Africa to tempt the Afrikander into taking part in a European quarrel. In India native opinion counts far more than it did in 1914, and the Channk incident showed that even a more purely British Dominion like Canada had developed a mind of her own in the sphere of foreign policy. Let us face the facts. 'I ho declaration of the Imperial Conference of 192G and the subsequent Statute of Westminster proved that the links in the chain of Empira, have been greatly weakened and the entry of the United. Kingdom into another European war might snap them once and for all time. As regards Locarno, 1 seem to remember that France on that occasion pledged herself to disarm without delay. If so. then the Locarno Treaty is undoubtedly playing into the hands of French chauvinism, for a decade later wo find her more powerfully equipped than ever. However, isolationism does not involve proGcrmanism. Logical Imperialists should subordinate all things to their ideal, and as the Locarno Treaty, the League of Nations and "collective security" are all likely to lead to war, let us abandon them in the interests oi the Empire. R.F.P. HELP THE UNEMPLOYED. As a practical means of helping the unemployed and of enlisting the sympathy ana co-operation of all citizens, may I suggest the following: That all persons enjoying three good meals per day agree to omit one meal per week and devote the amount saved to the fund. The fund can be collected by being placed in envelopes and deposited in places decided upon throughout the city, in church collections, etc. The fund to be administciea by a committee made up of retired men and. women whose services will be voluntary, J' l3 Worship the' Mayor to be president and tho town clerk secretary. No expenses of any kind to be incurred in administration. Tno whole sum contributed to be spent on city works, the property of the people, and only registered unemployed engaged on the woiaS paid for out of the fund.' We are citizens of a worthy and wealthy city. Let us share our property with the lowliest ami poorest in <>" midst. ' LOVER OF AUCKLAND.