NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 70, 16 December 1937, Page 9

NEWS IN BRIEF

School Holidays Primary schools in the Wellington Education Board's district arc to close on Friday for the Christmas vacation, reopening on February 1. The secondary schools also close this week and their practice is to re-open about a week later than the primary schools. Increased Boarding Allowance. The boarding allowance of children attending school has been raised from 5/- to 7/6 a week. Advice to this effect was received by the Wellington Education Board at its meeting yesterday from the Director of Education, Mr. N. T. Lanibourne, who stated that payment at the increased rate was to take effect as from the beginning of the third term, 1937.

Modified Curriculum. The Education Department’s proposal to modify the curriculum in secondary schools during the hot month of February was commended by Colonel 'l' W. McDonald at yesterday’s meeting of tlie Wellington Education Board as being a step in the right direction. The chairman. Mr. W. V. Dyer, ail'd other members supported Colonel McDonald’s remarks.

Point Halswell Road. No time has been lost in completing tlie task of consolidating the surface of tlie Point Halswell Road by M.C.L treatment. This work was begun only at the beginning of the week, yet such was the organisation that the whole of the work was completed by noon yesterday. It is pointed out that in the warm weather now being experienced the emulsion used is likely to be "tacky” for a day or two, and motorists are advised not to use the roa'd until Saturday. Wellington Mayoralty.

Friends of Mr. T. C. A. Hislop are reminded of the deputation that is to wait upon him in the mayor’s room at the Town Hall at noon to-day with a request that he allow himself to be nominated for a further term of office as mayor of Wellington. Mr. Hislop was first returned as mayor in May, 1931, so that by the end of his present term he will have been seven years in office, a record which has only been beaten by the late Sir John Luke, who was mayor from 1913 until 1921. Houses 'for the Aged.

A proposal that tlie Christchurch City Council should undertake a housing scheme for old-age pensioners is to be made to the council, when it meets next Monday evening. It will be suggested that 50 cottages be built at a cost that will allow them to be let for not more than 10/- a week. The proposal will be made by Or. J. S. Barnett, who is a member of a committee consisting of representatives” of the council, the Health Department, and tlie Christchurch Drainage Board, which has been investigating bousing conditions in the city.

Teaching of Housecraft. Since 1931 the housecraft section of (lie manual training building at Mount Cook School has remained unequipped and for some years the Wellington Education Board has endeavoured to have proper provision made for the training of girls in this work. At yesterday’s meeting of tlie board a communication was received from the Education Departmen advising that the Government lin'd provided a grant to cover the cost of fitting out the housecraft section. The board proposes to install a kitchen, a dining-room, and a bedroom similar to the model flat at present in use at the Wellington Technical College.

Talking Books for the Blind. With Britain, the United States and Canada, New Zealand is one of the four countries in the world most fully equipped with talking book factilities for tlie blind, reports Sir Clutha Mackenzie, the director, in the latest issue of Chronicles of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind. Sixty-one talking book machines were in use at the institute in Auckland; 27 were presented by the Commercial Travellers’ Blind Soldiers’ Fund, and some were on loan to committees in Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. A steady supply of records was arriving from London and New York ag soon as they were recorded, two copies of each English book and one of each American being received. Roads Instead of Guns.

A request for a donation made by the New Zealand Territorial Association was refused by the Waikato County Council at its meeting this week. When the request was read, the chairman, Mr. J. A. Sampson, said that the council should do all in its power to encourage measures for the defence of the country. In his opinion the matter should be brought to the attention of tlie Government, and it was tlie duty of tlie local bodies to see that it received the support it deserved. He moved that the council donate £5/5/-. Mr. Young said that he would rather see the money spent on roads than on territorials. “What is the use of our roads if we are not in a position to defend them?” asked the chairman. An amendment to refuse the request was carried.