AIDING THE WEAK

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19062, 26 July 1927, Page 9

AIDING THE WEAK

USES OF PSYCHOLOGY.

TESTS IN CHOOSING POLICE.

The treatment of juvenile delinquents, criminals, and insanity cases is all being framed in the light of the discoveries of modern practical psychology, according to Dr. C. E. Beeby, psychology expert, who has recently returned from Europe. Tests for the selection of public servants such_ as policemen, tram and motor drivers are also being made on a psychological basis. Dr. Beeby said ib was the custom for such bodies as the London County Council .to employ a psychologist. Juvenile delinquents who came before the Courts were subjected to certain tests, and on those the advice regarding vocational guidance was given. The tests enabled them to be drafted into classes. Psychologists in prisons and mental hospitals were carrying out the same land of tests on the patients.

England Behindhand. In this respect England was far behind America and Germany, chiefly owing to lack of money. There was urgent need to spend more money. Holland had done a lot in this,sphere, and in Germany one of the principal psychological laboratories was in the old Royal Palace of the Hohenzollerns. There was practically none of this research being conducted in New Zealand.

Choosing the Police. In Amsterdam it was a practice to choose policemen, tram-drivers, and omnibus drivers by psychological tests. It was their emotions which were put to the test, their reliability in times of stress or in any sudden emergency being tried. These tests had been remarkably satisfactory, few men chosen by this means ever having proved failures. This field offered a large sphere for investigation.

Board was able to induce the shipping companies to apply the reduction of 7J per cent, to the current contract, and this reduction took effect as from August 3rd, 1926. The new agreement represents a further saving to the meat producers of approximately £150,000 per annum, whilst the new freight rates which have been secured represent a saving of £1,117,000 per season on frozen meat, tallow, and pelts when compared with the rates in existence in 1922.

Reductions in Costs. "Ever since its formation the Board has continually kept in view its policy of endeavouring to reduce costs as between producer and consumer. Prior to the inception of the Board the intervening charges had reached such a high level, that if the farmers of the Dominion were to hold their own on Smithfield with the competition of other countries something had to be reduce these costs. On the formation of the Board its first duty was to endeavour to reduce these heavy intervening charges which were handicapping our trade. The Board has never relaxed its efforts in this direction, and, having in view the steady decline in values, the position is being very closely watched to see that this falling tendency is also reflected in the various costs incurred by the farmer in j New Zealand, not only in producing his. fat stock, but also in placing the frozen product on Smithfield and other markets—particularly so when it was recognised that our meat has to come into competition with that of foreign countries who are more favourably placed than New Zealand in marketing their produce. It should be realised that, though market prices rise or fall, every charge as between the meat producers of the Dominion and the buyers on Smithfield remains more or less fixed, so that whatever reductions are secured in these costs they represent I an increase in the net return which the fanner obtains for his labour and capital invested. In the various shipping contracts which the Board has made in ocean freights alone the various reductions obtained amounted to £1,117,000 yearly. x ','••■,.. "In addition to these reductions in shipping freights it is of interest to note other economies which have resulted since 1922. These economies, including reductions in shipping freights, represent a saving equal to approximately: 60lb sheep, 6s; 351b lamb, 4s; 7201b bullock, £3 7s 7s; 1201b pig, 13s lOd. - • "The Board does not claim that the whole of the above reductions are solely due to its efforts, but it can confidently state that a large portion of the reductions in costs would not have come, into operation had it not been for the Board's negotiations and the powers it possesses. "In estimating what effect reductions in COStS have on the -market I value of meat shipped we must not overlook the fact that these economies also increase the value of all live-stock grazing in the Dominion.

Pork Industry. "The Board continues to do everything possible towards ensuring that the pork industry shall eventually take its place in the export trade of a country situated so favourably''as is this Dominion. Now that the export of pigs from New Zealand is increasing, the Board has decided to institute grades for the various weights of porker pigs. The grading will be introduced in the forthcoming season, and it is hoped that this step will help in the marketing of our pigs. "Some time ago the Board, after considerable investigations, decided that the large white pig was the best to use for breeding with the existing pigs in New Zealand to produce the ideal bacon pig suitable for the export trade with the United Kingdom, and in order to encourage the importation and' bleeding of this pig the Board offered special prizes for the large whites at the last Royal Show in Auckland. This year, at the Royal Show to be held_ in Christchurchj in addition to offering prizes for purebred large whites, the Board intends to go a step further by offering prizes for porkers and bacon pigs (irrespective of breed) most suitable for export trade. After being judged at the show these pigs are to be killed and shipped Home for judging on Smithfield Market. In this connexion the Board has offered prizes in the various classes totalling £l5O. "Owing to the present embargo on the importation of live-stock into the Dominion from Britain the Board has been unable to introduce suitable purebred stock, but it has imported from Australia some purebred large white pigs which were specially «?l ecte dThese pigs are now at Ruaknra. The progeny will later be distributed # by the Board throughout the Dominion. Valuable experiments' are being conducted at the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, in the feeding of pigs.

"According to the financial statement the excess of income over expenditure for the twelve months amounted to £12.952 4s od. The investments now total £59,000. the accumulated fund standing at £64,733 5s 4d."