Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 16211, 5 September 1916, Page 4

On January 1, 1878/ nearly 39 years ago, our present system National of national educaor Denominational cation came into Education? operation. The basic principle of this system was that it should be free, secular, and compulsory. The State made provision for the physical, mental, and moral training of all children, and offered certain facilities ( for the religious training of these children by those specially qualified for such work. Parents or guardians who did not wish to take advantage of the education provided by the State were not compelled to send their children to State schools. All that was demanded was that these children should receive efficient education under conditions satisfactory to the State. During the comparatively lengthy period our education system has been in operation there has been a marked tendency to make it more and more truly national. On the recommendation of the Education Commission of 1901 a uniform scale of staffs and salaries for the whole of New Zealand was established. This broke down the-parochial system of varying and ever-changing rates of payment made by the several Education Boards, and laid the foundation for other changes that followed in due course. As au outcome of the report of the Education Commission of 1912 inspectors of schools were placed under the control of the Education Department, the number of education districts was reduced from 13 to 9, and a uniform scale of allowances to School Committees was inaugurated. This nationalising movement is still progressing, and it is hoped that in the not far distant future there will be only four education districts, corresponding to the four university districts and the four training college districts. In these larger districts School Committees will probably have greater administrative powers; but the appointment and promotion of teachers will be carried out under a Dominion scheme, based upon a satisfactory grading scheme.

While the Nationalists have thus been slowly but surely carrying reforms leading up to their ideals, the Denominationalists have not been idle. Again and again the various churches have endeavored to introduce religious teaching during school hours. Only two years ago Canon. Garland, brought.over from Australia, j»n v

dxxcted a great campaign on,behalf of the Bible-in-Schools party. The Nationalists, xvhile anxious to grant every facility for religious teaching on undenominational lines, objected to the clergy or their accredited representatives entering the schools during school hours and separating ’ the pupils into groups according to the sects to which they belong. The result of the contest was a victory for those, supporting our national system of education on its present lines—free, compulsory, and secular.

A few days ago an attempt to gain special concessions was made from another quarter, and on quite different lines. A deputation from the New Zealand Catholic Federation waited upon the Minister of Education and asked that various concessions should bo granted to the people of their church. These requests referred to the holding of scholarships by Catholic children at the nearest approved Catholic secondary school, medical inspection of Catholic school children, tlie supply of the School Journal to . Catholic schools, free travel on the Government railways under certain conditions, and special representation on tho National Council of Education. The reply of the Minister left no room for doubt as to the stand, he intended to take regarding the Government policy in the matter of national education. Mr Hanan said :

Yon have asked me to give a straightforward reply. _ I am going to give it to you. The view of the National Cabinet is that to grant these concessions would bo absolutely opposed to the existing policy of the national system of education. Tho National Cabinet, I think I am right in saying, stands for the present national system of education, and therefore it is not in favor of granting any concessions which xvould lead to the undermining of our national system—to concessions xvWell would lead ultimately to (ho breaking up of our State system of edu-

cation. /Tho position taken up by the Minister of Education is, in our opinion, perfectly logical and his argument unansxvorafcle. Put in a nutshell, the matter resolves itscli into this question ; Are xvo in this country to have a national or a denominational system of-- education ? If sixsevenths, or even a much smaller fraction, of the people of New Zealand say that it is to be national, then national it xvill be; and those who do not care .Jo take adx-antage of the State system must just provide their children with the kind of education they prefer, but they must not ask other people to pay for their special luxury.

Rapid progress is being made by Fletcher Bros, xvith the erection of the Medical School in King street, and Jiopes are entertained that the building will ho ready for occupation next March.

,A number of residents of Mornington, interested in their gardens, assemblecf last evening in the Mornington Methodist Hall to hear Air D. Tannock on ‘ Cottage Vegetalo, Gardens.’ Air Tannock spoke "of trenching and the best way to grow potatoes, cabbages, and roots. Several questions asked by those present were replied to, and a vote of thanks for tho instructive evening was moved by Air G. A. Skene and seconded by Or Patton. The Rev. W. Greenslade presided. Tho waterside workers at Napier yesterday morning refused, for two hours'and a half to accept work offered by Messrs Richardson and Co., their grievance being that they should all have a turn at tho work of unloading the Tongariro at 10s per hour and 15s per hour overtime. In the end the men accepted work. Three boats were affected.

A ridiculous anomaly in nomenclature is removed by proclamation in last week’s ‘Gazette’ (says the ‘ Sou tld and Times’). Every child in the country knows the name Bluff. Up till very lately the official name of that place was Campbelltown, but the name was never used "except iu notices or documents. The unused name is now abolished, and the place will be known officially, as it aiwavs has been m fact, as Bluff.

. -A buxom Scotchwoman, giving evidence in the Magistrate s Court at Wellington oh Inursa,ay against three men charged with stealing her handbag and some £l6 in money, constantly referred to the accused as “gentlemen.” Ur L. G. Reid, S.M.. said it was doubtful whether they could b 0 called gentlemen, and thought it would suffice jf they were referred to as “ men.” This, too, was doubtful, for the evidence showed that “ the little Scotswoman,” as Inspector Hendrey called her, with the assistance of two servants, kept the three men ” at bay, and prevented them escaping from the restaurant until the representative. of the daw arrived and took the thieves into custody. The three ladies (says the Wellington ‘ Times ’) certainly P l '°, se ffi ej l a healthy, athletic appearance, which contrasted greatly with the sallowfaced, weedy men whom they had beaten m a rough-and-tumble.

The tall framework over the new Anglican Cathedral in Stuart street is not tho scaffolding of a tower, as some suppose, it is the framework for the lift which will raise to position the stones for the utipi->-walling. ‘ l '

Recently in Wellington, before the Conciliation Council, an agreement was mad© as to increased wages to be paid by tho Wellington managers of picture shows to their orchestras, and it is stated that the Musicians’ Unions in other centres of the Dominion are about to lodge claims for payment on a scale similar to that tamed by picture show orchestras of their Vv eiJmgton brethren. It has been rumored (wires “Our Own”) that trouble has already arisen in Christchurch picture shows but interviews with tho various managers showed that such was not the case. One manager, speaking generally, said that if the musicians’ demands wore made exorbitant the question would have to bo considered of doing away with the orchestras at picture shows, and substituting instead an American instrument which was callable of producing full orchestral effects as well as single instrumental strains. .Such an instrument was now being used at Hoyt ,s Theatre, Melbourne, and had proved very satisfactory'. It was in the term of an 88-note keyboard piano, and its powers of musical production were very comprehensive, from violin to cathedral chimes, etc. It could also produce noise effects,” from a locomotive whistle to a baby’s cry. In conclusion, this manager said that he doubted if'many people came to tho picture theatres specinlly for the music. Lovers of music looked elsewhere for their requirements It was necessary to have some form of orchestra at picture shows, but the American instrument referred to would do "all that was necessary, and could lie played by one person. That would mean a proat saving in wages.- Another manager agreed that,the question of the orchestra was not of vital importance to a picture theatre A poor picture would fail to attract, however excellent the music, and a gpod film would fill the house, however poor the orchestra.

Right to work ” is- a phrase which has a new force under the Military Service Act, for the employment of non-enroj]ed men or deserters is prohibited. For their own protection reservists should apply promptly to the Government Statistician for certificates of enrolment, for which application forms are obtainable at anv post office. The production of a certificate is a guarantee to an employer -that the reservist nas a right to work. This certificate also saves, its possessor from unpleasant interviews with the police. -Martin Olsen, who pleaded guilty in the Police Court to a charge of theft, will come up for sentence by His Honor Mr Justice Sim on Thursday morning. On Friday morning His Honor will take the case of Peat and another v. Maokie and others, an originating summons. x At a meeting of the Dunedin Licensing Committee to-day the license of the Prince of Wales Hotel was transferred fipm John Murchie to William Hog. Members of committee present were Messrs H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., I. Green J. Carroll, and JL Ritchie '

, Ihe Board of Trade were engaged to-day investigating the coal and flour trade. They leave for Christchurch on Friday morning.

In Christchurch (wires "Our Own”) the immediate results of the anti-shouting regulations have been a great reduction in the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, and it would seem as though these results will be permanent, providing a rigid observance of the law is maim tained by both licensee and consumer Never, possibly, since Christchurch has' reached the 60,000 population mark have Police Court charge-sheets presented such a blank appearance. Tins is evidence which admits of only one interpretation—the efficacy of the anti-shouting regulations. Ex-ery licensee approached -on the subject admits that his takings have been materially affected. Some set down the decrease at a third of the customary takings; others say there has been a 20 per cent, drop; while the majority unhesitatingly declare that there'has been “a big difference. All expi'sss themselx r es confident that “ business xvill pick up.” What foundation there is for this confidence is not apparent if the law is to bo obeyed to the letter. Legal opinion has been taken by tho licensed victuallers regarding certain phases of the regulations, but this opinion offers little 'comfort to anyone who might have expected it to point out' joints in the armor of the regulations. So iar as can be seen the laxv is being generally adhered to by the bar attendants.

At a special meeting of the Napier Borough Council on Thursday the following resolution was carried: —“ That with a xdexv to reducing expenses, it is the opinion of this council that wo can for the. present do -Without the services of a borough engineer, and that Mr Warren be given notice, in accordance xvith his agreement, and that he be paid three months’ salary in lieu of notice.”

“ They believe in Hell because they live m it,” said Captain Bazeley at the annua! meeting of the British and Foreign Sailors’ oociety in Auckland, Tho speaker v.-as describing the conditions under which firemen in ships lived, and he said that he had known mission workers to be ill after visiting firemen in their quarters on board ship, so terrible xvere tho conditions under which they existed.

( Ihe jurors in the protracted trial of the prophet” Rua at Auckland are to bo allowed _2s 6d a day above the usual remuneration of Bs, together xx-ith any expenses they incurred in tramway or railxvay. fares. Tho case lasted 41 * days, so •that on the basis of the 2s fid alone each juror will receive £5 2s fid.

“ The medical inspection in Wellington must be—well, to say the least of it—absolutely putrid,” exclaimed Mr W. Welch, chairman of the Hutt County Council, at a recruiting meeting on Thursday. ‘‘Every week,” he added, “wo see 30 or 40 men dismissed from camp as unfit after having been passed by the doctors in Wellington as fit men. The whole system must be wrong.” At a dinner held in Masterton last week Captain Hursthouse, of the New Zealand Dental Corps, gave some interesting, information. _Hq stated that from June 1 to August 51 the total number of dental operations performed at the Festhevston Camp was 16,410. Of these 7,558 were amalgam fillings, 285 cement fillings, 1,256 dressings, 1,182 root fillings, and 1,003 denture repairs. A solemn assembly, composed of local Anglican clergymen, was interrupted the other day by the unlooked-for entry into the meeting room of a Roman Catholic priest (says the Napier ‘Herald’). The conference looked startled, while the intruder looked surprised, then embarrassed, and, apologising, hurriedly withdrew. It happened that there was a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union in the same building, and the “padre” had mistaken the place of meeting. There was much amusement at the football meeting when a few minutes later the priest located it and explained his mistake to the assembled footballers.

Ihe bottle-gathering campaign by tho LaJciutha school children resulted in 12,000 bottles being collected, of which Standard 111. were responsible for over 5,000. One little girl proved a veritable live ■wire,” says the 4 Leader/ being alono responsible for about 400 bottles. Cabled from ALelbourne that Burradoo has been scratched for the Cup. Burradoo is a throe-year-old son of Bobadil— Duenna, owned by H.H. ihe Rajah of Pudnkotee.

Cheer up! Yatson’s No. 10 whisky eends a glow throughout system. It’s rara quality tells.—[Advt.] Wo make bold to say that every prosperous grocer in Auckland now stocks “No Rubbing Laundry Help,’’ likewise every wholesale merchant. The run is on the Is cartons.—[Advt.] A glass of Speight’s beer at hmch and supper is better than all the tea in China.— [Advt.J

Matson’s is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.—[Advt.] No lady should be without Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pi!h. Sold bv all chemists and Stores throughout Australasia.—fAdvt.l