YOUNG FARMERS

Evening Star, Issue 23025, 2 August 1938, Page 11

YOUNG FARMERS

WELCOME BY MAYOR VISIT TO ST. PAUL'S The first session in connection with the young fanners’ educational week, which is being conducted at present, was held this morning. The party first went to the Medical School, whore Dr C. E. Herons gave an illustrated lecture on physical education. Later at St. Paul’s Catliddral Dean Cruickshank explained 'the interior Gothic architecture and delivered an address on ‘ Citizenship.’ MAYORAL WELCOME, During the morning tea interval at the Returned Soldiers’' rooms, the organiser of the course (Mr A. C. Cameron) introduced the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who welcomed the party on behalf of the city. The Mayor extended a very cordial welcome, and said that the town and the country were each dependent on the other for existence. The value of the farming community to Otago was fully realised, and it was always his aim to advance the interests of the country when he could The week’s educational course was an excellent idea, as it gave the young men from the country an opportunity of seeing how the people lived and worked in the towns, besides giving them a change from their usual vocation. It was unfortunate that because of the nature of their work the course could be held only at this time of the year, which was the coldest and wettest period. On Friday the party would visit the Waiipori power station, and the speaker assured the visitors that they would spend a most interesting day. He also extended a welcome to future parties to be present at a meeting of the city council, so that they would be able to see how the business was transacted. On the motion of Mr L. Sutton (Moa Flat), a vote of thanks was carried. PHYSICAL FITNESS MOVEMENT. Introducing his • subject, Dr C. E. Hercus, dean of the Medical Faculty, said that the German national fitness movement had started in the nineteenth century, when an extraordinary emphasis had.been placed on such subjects as gymnastics and rhythmic exercises. It had been held that this system of physical training tended to routine development, whereas in British countries where physical training took the form of games, it was contended that greater initiative was developed. Dr Hercus emphasised that this fitness campaign was not necessarily for war. The Fulirer appealed to the youth of the nation to develop its bodily talents to the utmost, and to school itself to selflessness. Dr Hercus then made an appeal for the young farmers present to personally interest themselves in this matter. Ho felt that there was much they could do in their own districts. AVhy ask the Government to supply swimming baths, etc., when these could be made by community etfortp Tile speaker’s remarks were illustrated by moans of motion picture films. A motion of thanks to the speaker was proposed by Mr J. A Wither (Hlaungatua). CATHEDRAL ARCHITECTURE. Dean Cruickshank prefaced his remanes on the,jnrcliitecture of St. Paul’s Cathedral by stating that it was only one-third completed, and would eventually be in the form of a cross. Built during the Great War period, the cathedral contained the only vaulted roof in stone south of the Equator. This was 00ft above the floor. Over the main doorway the dean pointed out the stained glass window installed in memory of the men from Otago and Southland who fell in the Great War, ’this had cost £1,700, and included the badges of the mounted ami infantry

units of Otago and Southland, as well as those of the artillery, engineers, and medical corps Referring to the childrens’ chapel the speaker said this could be moved into any of the bays, and the memorial depicted the union of the Maori with the pakeha* Let into the pulpit were a small (Roman tile more than 1,300 years old, a stone taken from the original dome of St. Paul’s, London, anti another tile from lona. The origin of the stained glass windows behind the altar was not known, but it was thought that they might have come from a Continental church, and they were sold to the cathedral authorities by a dealer. The cathedral was all ot New Zealand construction except the Italian marble pavement in the centre aisle,- the organ, some of the stained glass windows, and a small quantity or New South Wales jarrah in the crypt* It was interesting to remember also that the altar in the side chapel was one used by Bishop Selwyn. . The dean'then gave a very address on the duties of the individual in connection with citizenship, utter which the members of the party were shown various items of interest in tne cathedral.