HAWERA ROTARY CLUB.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 31 August 1929, Page 5

HAWERA ROTARY CLUB.

ENTERTAINED BY VISITORS. PROFESSOR WALKER ON STANDARD OF SPEECH. At the weekly luncheon of the Hawera Rotary Club, held yesterday, a considerable number of visitors, including town residents, were present. The guests of honour were Professor Maxwell Walker, Auckland, and Mr Eric Moss, Greymouth,' the adjudicators at the competitions which concluded last evening. President P-, O. Veale was in the chair. Following upon lunch, Mr Moss played a clarinet solo so exquisitely that the company demanded a. repetition. Professor Maxwell Walker, as a speaker of the day, gave an address of. which it would 1 not be possible to give an adequate precis. A witty impromptu opening was followed by a few words upon the necessity for more care being given to our spoken language. The illustrations of common errors and the comments thereon formed an entertainment of itself. The professor had, however, something of a constructive nature to bring forward, and he referred to a matter of which lie has spoken on several occasions in his home district. He has an idea which he considers will, if taken up by those having the authority necessary, make New Zealand the [ model for the whole Empire for pure English in the spoken word. He emphasised the fact that our knowledge of our language is largely acquired by imitation. The child learned by imitation the speech of its parentis and teachers. It was unfortunately the fact that throughout the professions, including that of the teacher, there was a tendency to slur the speech. This defect was common with other nations than the British, He maintained: that English as spoken in New Zealand was at least as good as that spoken in any part of the Empire, that was on the average, and it was the average that must be taken. The comparatively small population was an advantage to New Zealand if a definite attempt was made to make this country a model for the Empire in English speech. He said that it would cost no more than £4OOO a year to put his idea for bringing about this result- into practice, but it required someone with power ho give the scheme being. He advocated the appointment of professors of elocution at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and make it compulsory for every teacher to take Courses under one or other of these professors. The teachers would then be equipped: to train their pupils, and they, as they came to maturity in due course, would pass on to their children the benefit derived, and thus the national speech in course of time become a model for Empire. Later the professor delighted the company with anecdotes and elocutionary items that evoked unchecked merriment and much applause. Incidentally, Professor Maxwell Walker spoke of the great pleasure he felt to find one of his old pupils presiding at the gathering. Indicating President Veale. he said: “This is a man who should have been a Rhodes scholar,” and he asserted that it was only doe to unforeseen circumstances that this had not been so. Tin’s reference naturally pleased the Rotarians. and occasion was taken to acquaint Professor Walker of the credit Mr Veale had brought on himself and the district by his achievements in scientific dairy research work.

■Rotarian Bond expressed thanks on behalf of the club and other visitors m-esent to Professor Walker and Mr Moss for their attendance and the pleasant time that had resulted'.