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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 85, 9 January 1928, Page 11

Comparatively little is known of lipreading in New Zealand, but it call be done, and most successfully. It is taught in the Sumner School to the deaf and dumb pupils, who become so proficient that they can easily keep up a fast conversation with a visitor. Possibly lip-reading also has its disadvantages, and for that reason before the pupils see a picture on the screen it is carefully scrutinised by an expert, for it has been found that the hero and heroine often sav things that the person who knows not lip-reading fails to comprehend. For instance, it is possible that when the hero steps forward with a motion suggestive of “Darling, I love you,” he may inadvertently step on one of the heroine’s fragile toes, and the latter may be pardoned if she said something to’ the accompaniment a pleading look with upturned face. For that reason it has been found most necessary to have pictures with screen stars wlio, if they do speak, say only tilings that are appropriate. It was an ex-Sumner pupil who threw much light upon the subject. Recently he went to church in Auckland, and when the preacher could not find what he wanted in his notes he said something (says the "Star”). There was only one person in the congregation who knew the two whisoered words.