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Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 12

“I think that the broadcasting of debates in Parliament is the greatest innovation in the history of New Zealand,” said Mr P. Neilson, M.P., in a recent address at South Dunedin. “It enables the public to have the news right from the horse’s mouth, as it were, which is in marked contrast with the methods of the press, which reports in garbled fashion what you may or may not have said. When I spoke in Parliament on a subject of great importance to my union—the Bakers’ Union—the Hansard report made about one and a half columns of newspaper space, yet all I received in the local press was about four lines.”

Among old scholars of the Patea public school, which celebrated its diamond jubilee last week, are some who became well known in after years. Harry Coutts, of North Auckland, who attended as a scholar on the opening day, rose to the rank of captain in the South African War, and had the distinction of winning one of Queen Victoria’s scarves, which now reposes in the lobby of the Parliamentary Buildings in Wellington. Cecil Wray, of London, was a first-day pupil, and is one of our best-known New Zealanders. Arthur Hirst, a well-known composer and conductor, who lives in London, is another old scholar. A. Dabinett is a prominent architect at Hollywood, Brian Horner is a well-known surveyor in Malaya. N. B. Gadsby is a leading medical man in Aberdeen, and O. J, Hawken was Minister for Agriculture in the last Coates Ministry. J. F. Holloway and J. Baxter became owners and editors of papers. W. A. Collins became chairman of the Wanganui Education Board. Many other pupils became prominent in civic life.