POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1936, Page 10

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment

By Percy Flage,

These days it has become almost hopeless to expect to get a square deal from a round table conference. Paradoxically, when Dr. Dalton, M.P., spoke bluntly, his criticisms were ruthlessly sharp and cutting. Changing the steering wheel to the centre of the car won't be much of an advantage if the driver is seeing double. • • • ', . . Probably Poland is seeking a place in the sun because she feels she has been out in the international cold too. long. Labour Minister: "Our aim and purpose is to multiply social benefits." We don't know about the benefits, but our income tax has been multiplied by three. * ♦ • FINANCIAL FOGS. Customers seeking their credit bank balances in their passbooks are not the only ones befogged in American banks these days. According to ona authority special valves in the new building of the Chicago Agricultural Bank can fill the whole building with, artificial fog in the event of a raid by gangsters. One move of the cashier's leg is enough to start the process, which is completed within a few minutes. Meanwhile all doors close automatically, and the police receive an alarm. And now we know why American police cars are fitted with those loud sirens we hear from the gangster films.' It is in case they, too, become fogbound. # ♦ * HEARD THIS ONE? Alan Garrett Anderson, a member ot the Commons, and son of England's first woman doctor, the famous Eliza, beth Garrett Anderson, tells this one. When he went to London 38 years agk he visited his great-uncle and they, compared Hotes. "And how did you come to London?* asked the young man. "By coach?" "No, indeed," said the uncle. "Coach was for rich folk. I came by smack. And well I remember the advertisement on the quayside,, at Peterheadi 'From this berth the Marie Rose will sail on Monday next at noon, D,V. and weather permitting. And Tuesday whether or no.'" .•" • ♦ THOSE GERMAN TUNES^ Dear Mr. Flage,—Being naturally! modest, I waited to see if anyone else would hasten to enlighten your Nelson correspondent regarding the tunes which conclude the German short-wave transmission. Since no one has ap« parently done so, may I break into your much-appreciated column to in* form him that the first tune is "Deutschland Über Alles" (I hope the spelling is right). At any rate, "Germany over all" is a free translation of same. Ife was also the tune of the one-time Austrian National Anthem. As a hymn tune it was sung often and lustily by; us, as youngsters, in the kirk. During the war it was banned from out? service, and, I think, from all churches in Scotland. I shall never forget the shouts of reproach that' greeted me one Sunday as I thoughtlessly tried to grind oufc the tune on our ancient harmonium. Two repatriated prisoners of war, who, had been confined in a German camp, happened to be in the house at the time, and the tune reminded them o£ experiences they were trying hard to forget. Incidentally, I heard the tune sung in a Wellington church a few Sundays ago—the first time I had so heard it for 22 years. The second tune is, I think, the Nazi Hymn. It was played by the bands at the Olympic Games after each German victory in any of the events.—Yourt appreciatively, A. MAv> • • # • PACHYDERMS. This is a request number. Her menv> ory stirred by a reference to Jumbo, of the Auckland Zoo, and his mate, Jamuna, Addie Moreton, Takapuna. dug out of her clippings a jingle of ours which appeared in Col. 8 som« four years ago, and asks its republic* tion. Flattered, we oblige. Jamuna, oh Jamuna! j I've reached you, dear, at last ) I could not get here sooner. My honey-buggins vast. My trunk was under cover To shelter from the r.ain, But there's not any lover Can walk the raging main. Jamuna, my Jamuna! Upon my knees I swear, By all the gods sublunar, A mate more shyly fair No Mowgli or a Jumbo Could ever hope to own. From Oshkosh to Colombo Your fatal charm is known. Jamuna, my Jamuna! Palpitant, tremulous, Let us await the boon a Kind Fate may send to us, I'm fond of jam. Ha ha, dear! Does not that sprightliness Prove you're my guiding star, deart Say yes, Mignon! Say yes! Jamuna, my Jamuna! I am so glad I came To you by Takapuna, And do you feel the same? Your voice is low and gentle, Your eyes close dreamily. Oh, creature elemental, Now when do we have tea? * * * THEY DAMN EXAMS. Students who are burning the mid* night oil in preparation for the exam* inations next month may find a crumb or two of comfort in the facts that follow. Several weeks ago leading British educationists made a scathing indictment of the modern examination system". According to Dr. L. Wynn Jones, one of the greatest weaknesses is the fallibility of the examiner. Aa examination system implied flexibility and compromise. Laxity and abuse, on the one hand and "cast-iron pigheadedness" on the other must not be allowed to clog the wheels. Professor Hamley, of the Institute of Education, said that much strain would be obvi« ated if tests were on standard subjects, shorn of subtleties, and made straightforward and practical. Another higSi authority held that often the ignorance of the examiner was the trouble. Us was imperfectly aware of what he was measuring, and ignorant of the conclusions that could be drawn from his judgment. The chief function oi examination should not be approval oi rejection of candidates, but to provido a means of studying the child and find, ing out what he could do in order to give him an opportunity of doing it. Professor Drever said that secondary education was inevitably dominated by the view that its main function was to prepare for the university. In an ordinary qualifying examination, as opposed to a competitive one, the aim should be to discover what the exam' inee knows and can do instead of what he doesn't know or can't do. We hope this note catches the ©ye oj our Minister o£ Education alao.