NON-FERROUS METALS

Evening Star, Issue 23553, 17 April 1940, Page 6

NON-FERROUS METALS

NATION-WIDE COLLECTION CAMPAIGN SCHOOL CHILDREN'S CO-OPERATION SOUGHT This morning’s meeting of the Otago Education Board discussed a suggestion from the National Patriotic Fund Board that the co-operation of school children should be obtained in a nationwide collection of non-ferrous metals, and it was eventually decided to approve of the proposal, it being left to the discretion of the school committees to carry the scheme out. The chairman (Mr James Wallace) agreed with the worthiness of the cause, but expressed his objection to the principle of the services of children being sought for collection purposes. The Secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Wellington, wrote that the Minister of Education had given approval to the proposal of his board to launch a campaign for the collection of non-ferrous metals on a nation-wide basis. While the primary purpose of this collection was to augment the National Patriotic Fund, there was the further aspect that lead, brass, and copper were in somewhat short supply in industry to-day. As a means of accomplishing this _aim the co-operation of the children in primary and secondary schools was considered to be essential. With the help of the children the whole country could be covered. It was suggested that this practical form of patriotism should appeal to teachers, parents, and pupils. The Chairman said he was not in sympathy with making use of children for collecting purposes. He did not think children should be encouraged to scrounge around as they would have to in this connection.

Mr N. Colquhoun, expressed the opinion that this would be a means of bringing before the children the seriousness of the international position. He moved that the board approve of the proposal to secure the co-operation of children in primary and secondary schools in collecting non-ferrous metals. Mr E. Morgan seconded the motion. Mr D. Marshall moved an amendment that the board could not see its way clear to support the proposal. This was seconded by Mr Sutherland. The Chairman said that the reason why the children’s services were desired was because they were the best collectors, but he did not approve of the principle that they should be made collectors. He did not wish members to think, however, that he did not realise that the cause was a worthy one. It was a worthy cause, but the means of collecting was unworthy. The amendment was defeated and the motion was then carried, it being left to the discretion of the school committees to carry the scheme out.