INTERCHANGE OF LETTERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 December 1925, Page 5

INTERCHANGE OF LETTERS.

BEi'WHEN BRITISH AND NEW ' . SCHOOLS. EDUCATION BOAR.D ENTHUSIASTIC. For the purpose of laying before the board his “School Children’s Empire Reciprocal Publicity Scheme,” Mr. L. O. Hooker waited on’the Taranaki Education Board yesterday and outlined his proposal. Members of the board were very favourable and passed a resolution offering to assist the scheme as far as possible. Mr Hooker said that the scheme was first thought out in October, ,1923, after the successful Empire week held that year. After careful consideration it was realised that if it were to be ait alll successful in. its object, to educate citizens of the Empire to trade within the Empire, it should commence by including the younger members of the community, and no more .successful >wlay of carrying it into effect could be thought of than by using school children in the various parts of the Empire. In 1924, with this object in view, a meeting of Taranaki members of Parliament and provincial newspaper interests was held, and, the meeting approved of the scheme which was a great deal more comprehensive than it was intended to bring into operation next year. The first move was made by Air. Hooker getting into touch with the Overseas Board of Trade at London and asking for the board’s co-opera-tion in the scheme as outlined. This was readily conceded, as was also that c,f the New Zealand Publicity Department, with the assistance of the Director of Education. Outlining the scheme ‘briefly, AH. Hooker said that lie intended to make a start in Taranaki district. All the children who were able should send a letter to some particular child in England dealing with the products of New Zealand, and with the climatic conditions and emigration matters. These letters would be , accompanied by pamphlets on. the primary products of the country and also a leaflet dealing with emigration. The English children in their turn would reply, treating on the articles made in the particular manufacturing centres,—articles which in many instances could he used by the people of New Zealand.

“lit must not be a- spassmodie effort,” said Mr. Hooker, “and when once started a great deal of correspondence would be maintained automatically.” A, special effort will be made to influence the • Government in the direction of making the scheme one of the planks of Empire Day celebrations. After the correspondence had been carried on for >som.e years many of the children of to-day would become the buyers and .sellers- of to-morrow.

“To launch the scheme .successfully it needs to he associated with some Empire Trade movement,” continued Mr. Hooker. “The South Taranaki Winter Show committee has this year agreed to have a week for the Empire during July of 1926, when every effort will be made! to further British manufacture. This will be tlie third of this kind held by the The first was during the war in 1917, and the •second was in 1923, under the patronof the Governor-General, Ean Jelliicoe. Botli were ve-rv successful and we are confident now of adequately launching: the. scheme to 'which we have referred.” ’Phe members- ofi the board were very enthusiastic over the proposal and, on the motion of Mr. H. J. Raves, the following resolution was carried unanimously : “That this board approves of the scheme as outlined by Mr. Hooker and is prepared, as far as it reasonably can, to assist with the proposed interchange of correspondence with children attending British school s. ” Mr. Hooker intends to approach the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, to-morrow with the object of securing bis approval of the .scheme.