NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 64, 17 March 1927, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Epidemics Affect Attendance.

A series of epidemics last year caused the percentage of attendance to roll number to go down from 91.53'.t0 89.84. At tho closo of 1926 there were 243 schools in operation in tho Wellington education district, of which tho average quarterly roll number, and attendance for tho year, were:—March 26,413 and 24,647, June 26,791, and 24,218, September 27,201 and 23,070, December 27,774 and 24,609. Veterinary Surgeons. The regulations under tho Veterinary Surgeons Act of last session will bo published in to-night's issue of the "Gazette." The Act, which came into force on Ist January, provides for the registratiou of veterinary surgeons throughout tho Dominion. Persons who have practised as veterinary surgeons in New Zealand for not less than ton years immediately prior to the commencement of tho Act, whether they aro qualified or not, will be permitted to practice and style themselves as veterinary practitioners so long as they rogister their names not later than twelvo months after tho commencement of the Act, and provided they arc of good character and repute. Tho Veterinary Surgeons' Board will 1 c appointed very shortly after the publication of the regulations, which prescribe the forms of application for registration and tho registration fees, and provide for appeals from discussions of tho board. Diseases of the Teeth. "Wherever the clinics are in operation," said Mr.-T. A. Hunter, Director of Dental Clinics yesterday at Auckland, "they are meeting with great success, and school committees, education boards, and parents alike, have expressed their satisfaction at the system, and a desire that tho facilities be extended. Where treatment has been carried out in the schools, medical officers report that the health of the children has improved- correspondingly to a marked degree. Over 95 per cent, of the children havo been found to be suffering from dental diseases, and this increase is attributable to our situpid diet and dietetic habits. Ono of ..the most important departures of dental clinic operations, therefore, is that in respect to educating both parents and children to adopt proper diets for prevention of diseases of tho teeth." Mr. Hunter was reluctant to touch upon the policy of the Department for the future, but indicated that it was hoped to exend the system steadily. Commercial Arbitration. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently received a letter from the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, London, asking: (1) "Whether tho New Zealand Courts would give effect to a submission to. arbitration when the arbitration is to take place outside vNew Zealand and both parties are subjects of countries which have acceded to the League of Nations' Protocol on arbitration clauses; also (2) whether the Courts would give effect to a submission to arbitration outside New Zealand to which ,he protocol does not apply?" These questions were referred to the Attorney-General, who, in a reply, states that "The Supreme Court will give effect to an arbitration held in any part of the British Dominions or in any foreign country, whether adher-1 ing to the League of Nations' Protocol or not, where one party is resident here and the parties have agreed to submit the matters in dispute between them to that jurisdiction. The jurisdiction in the case of nations not adhering to the Protocol is discretionary." In the case of arbitrations in the territory of nations outside the British Empire the jurisdiction of the Court is exercised in two, which are outlined .in th<i Attorney-General's letter. ■■;■■■■''

Wages and Bents. la "The Post" recently a correspondent signing himself ' "Lower Rents" referred to disproportionate increases in wages and rents, and wrote of charges of £2 to £2 10s for houses and flats which returned 14s and 16s before the war. The complaint was brought under the notice of the Labour Department, which suggested that specific eases should be submitted to the Inspector of Factories, who would 3ee if they could be dealt with under the Rent Restriction law. Cricketer's Preference. "If I were offered my choice between a trip to England and a trip to New Zealand, I would unhesitatingly choose New Zealand. It is the finest country in the world," said Mr. Hugh Trumble, the well-known ex-interna-tional cricketer, when he was leaving Dnnedin (telegraphs "The Post's" Dunedin correspondent). Mr. Trumble, who is the manager of the Melbourne Cricket Club's team, has travelled extensively on cricket tours. He f pressed to Mr. Warwick Armstrong, captain of the team, and another famous player, the hopo that before they both dropped out of the game altogether they would be able to organise another trip to the Dominion. An Unenviable Task. The selection of teams to represent Wellington on the Bugby football fields last season was probably the most unenviable task which has fallen to any selection committee of the Wellington Rugby Union. The opinion is expressed in the union's annual report that wi' ore support from players the ■t°clt of the selectors (Messrs. V. J. Griffiths, C. Ramsden, and A. Wilson) would undoubtedly have shown better results. For the manner in which they stuck to their work in the face of trying difficulties, the selectors are congratulated by- the committee of the Wellington. liugby Union. Print Writing. The small audience at an address on primary education delivered -by the Hon. M. Cohen; M.L.C., was staggered when the speaker referred to the new print style of writing as an incentive to forgery, says the Wanganui "Chronicle." Mr. Cohen stated that he had sent out a questionnaire to representatives of business and professional men and the replies were all in accord. They agreed that print writing was not only bad for the child, but it was an incentive to forgery. Bankers wanted a return to writing. T'-a Problem Solved. Some amusement was caused in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court on Monday during the hearing of a case in which a man was charged with vagrancy (reports the "New Zealand HeraV"). The Magistrate, Mr.' Wyvern ,Wilson, said the probation officer reported that accused had friends . in Auckland ,who were prepared to find him employment. He ordered accused to be discharged and to report to the pre: -.tion officer in Auckland, who would keep him under the surveillance he needed. Senior-Sergeant Sweeney asked how was the man to got to Auckland, as he had no means. The Magistrate thereupon sentenced accused to 24 hours' nominal imprisonment in the Auckland prison. He would then be taken to Auckland in. custody and released. Expenditure on Education. "Expenditure on education in New Zealand to-day is a tremendous thing, and there is no knowing where it will stop," said, the Hon. M. Cohen, M.L.C., during an address in Wanganui. "Despite this, Auckland is clamouring for a medical and engineering school in coiu.ection with the/University, while an agricultural college is to be established in Palmerston North. This is simply a duplication of existing services, but Auckland will get what it wants because thero is a majority of Aucklanders in Cabinet and a major-' ity of Northerners in the present Government. The Department of Education is hard up against it financially," said Mr. Cohen. "It would require two millions of money to honour Sir James Parr's pledges." The new Minister was certainly in it. tight corner, with an empty Treasury, but he was going to work along th« right lines in his administration. Referees Appreciated. Yoeman service by members of the illiugton Rugby Referees' Association is a matter commented upon in the Wellington Rugby Union's annual report. Rarely during tho season did one of the 80 referees appointed weekly fail to take his match, and then only from some unavoidable cause. The work of the Referees' Association has been so smooth and efficient in the past years, the report states, that players and club officials.are apt to take the attendance of. referees at All ■ games every Saturday as a matter of course, id fail to roaliae the enormous amount of-work performed by the executive of the association and its. secretary, Mr. H. S. Loith, and the loyalty of its members in securing this efllciency. In recording that the W.R.U, committee meetings were attended by the president of the Referees' Association (Mr. T. A. Fletcher), the report states that through this representation the two bodies are able to work in complete harmony with the minimum of delay. The Poneke Club, in its report, also oxpresses appreciation of the referees' services. Compulsory Swimming Lessons. A recommendation from tho Tua Marina School Committee ''That swimming be made a compulsory subject in State schools," aroused a lively discussion at the meeting of the Education Board yesterday. Tho chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P.) said that in view of the number of deaths from drowning in the Dominion, he had suggested to tho Minister of Education that the small capitation formerly granted to encourage swimming in schools be restored but this was not consideied advisable. Mr. Strachan, Senior Inspector of Schools in the Wellington district, reporting on the position locally, said that while in the city tho facilities wore being fully availed of by the schools, with concessions to good school swimmers, and while country schools made use of the beaches or rivers where they were available, there wero many places where the nearest bathing place was distant, or where the water was dangerous; he would be afraid to make swimming a compulsory subject. Mr. -G. T. London suggested that all candidates for the teaching profession should qualify to swim and teach SAvimming. Mr. C. Nicholls said that the number of children unable to swim at Lyall Bay had been the subject of comment by tho School Committees' Association. Mr. W. D. Pike thought it out of the question to make the subject compulsory in many districts owing to the la3k of facilities. Teaching swimming in some localities would be dangerous. Hr. Strachan remarked that all teachers passing through the Training College were instructed in swimming. Mr. T. W. Moss said that at one country centre he had had to watch a long time before he could tell whether a diminutive lady teacher was the pupil or the teacher, so well developed were some of the boys and girls she was teaching to swim. For a small teacher 'to undertake swimming lessonß to a big boy or girl, might be dangerous in parts of a river. After further discussion the board agreed ' with the teaching of swimming in schools, but could not see its way to make it a compulsory subject.