STATESMAN AND EMPIRE BUILDER.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14908, 5 March 1914, Page 7

STATESMAN AND EMPIRE BUILDER.

SEARCHING FOR KNOWLEDGE

AND ALSO HEALTH

There arrived in Christchurch last evening from tho South a very distinguished visitor, in tho person of Earl Grey, formerly Governor-General of Canada. Thc Earl, who is accompanied by the Countess, is paying a visit to the Australasian colonic* principally for reasons of he_ith. but he has strong upon him tho keenness of the public man for information ooncofr."*-' all tho special aspects of 'public finel economic lifo that appeal to him, and cannot resist tho temptation to personally investigate so far as possible those features of colonial lifo that may bo expected to havo in them something now or interesting. Particularly in housing and labour problems is Karl Grey interested, and his name has at different timers beon prominently associated with tho advocacy of town-planning operations and tho extension of the principle of co-partnership for the settlement of labour disputes. A TIRING JOURNEY. It was primarily lor health reasons that the visit to Australasia was decided upon by the Earl and Countess, and it is a matter for some regret that because of tho stnto of his health Lord Grey is unable while in tho Dominion to undertake civic receptions or public functions. Owing to the heat of yesterday tho journey from Dunedin proved a littlo trying, and when approached on tho train by a "Press" reporter with tho request for an interview. Lord Grey was constrained to courteously request that ho should not bo subjected to tho ordeal.

Tho Countess, however, at the suggestion of the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Education, who has been travelling with tho party, consented to mako a few observations upon two interesting institutions sho had 6cen at Dunedin. Tho Countess, bo it said, has, with tho Earl, a most gracious personality, and shares with him an interest in social and educational work. She confessed to having enjoyed with the liveliest interest hor visits to the Rachel Reynolds Memorial Kindergarten and tho Karitano Home ia Dunedin. "THE SECRET OF TRUE EDUCATION." "Yes," broko iv tho Earl, as the Countess paused in her eulogy of tho work of Miss Darling of tho kindergarten, "in this school you havo solved the secret of true education. Y*ou teach there love for the beautiful, graco, good manners, consideration for others, cheerfulness, observation, alertness and discipline. All thoso are good qualities; they make iho foundation of character. I was quite delighted with tiie school. I never saw any place better conducted, and if you duplicate this sort of education all over New Zealand you need not fear for the future of your people." "PERFECTLY ADMIRABLE." "Perfectly admirable" was tho phrase U6ed by tho Countess to describe Karitane Home—which is well known as an institution for tho caro of babies and as the fountain source of knowledge for Plunliet nurses. By the system of training adopted, and with tho work done by the nurses in everyday life, she was greatly attracted, and said that all young mothers should come into touch with the nurses and their, teaching. With the enthusiasm of ladies in this work also wns she impressed, and commented on their devotion of practically the whole of their time to its needs. "Yes," again said the Earl, "you can say that Now Zealand, through Dr. Truby King, is giving an example to the whole of the world of how to save infantile life. Not only does ho reduce the mortality of infant life, but tho health of the surviving babies is very greatly increased, because they are brought up on serious hygienic lines. Every young mother ought to be in touch with and following the methods of the dootoT; who backs up his enthusiasm with a wonderful knowledge of his subject."