A NATIONAL FAILING

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1929, Page 8

A NATIONAL FAILING

(Exchange.)

Periodically there ore complaints about the low standard of speaking in New Zealand, but for more than one reason Mr Justice . MacGregor spoke more frankly than is usual, ano he is a judge of the Supreme Court. The Bench has had judges who were far from models of clear enunciation or lucidity of * expression. One judge —and a good judge too—who presided over a Southern Court with distinction for many years, was noted for the discursiveness of his judgment. But judges as a class belong to i profession that is trained to express itself with more than average, clarity —can we add brevity? and they practise frequently the art of exposition to bodies of averagely intelligem men. When, therefore, Mr Justice MacGregor says that our standard ol public speaking is deplorably low, wc must listen to him with respect. Nor is there any use in questioning his judgment. The standard is low. and, if anything, it is sinking. The level of speaking in Parliament is not what it was. In the whole of our public life there is hardly one orator. The absence of real oratory, however, is much less regrettable than the scarcity of competent speakers. Not for nothing has oratorybeen called the harlot of the, arts. We can dispense with the “spellbinder,” ibut the amount of slipshod, slovenlyspeaking, of wrapping up of nothing much or nothing at all in a vast envelope of dull words, is a trial to the patience of the public and a brake on the development of intellectual fife. It is copious that this low standard of public speech slTould go with/ a passion for public speaking. Most meetings and functions are. overloaded with speeches, and many a gathering has started on a high note and sunk to a low one simply because the audience has been bored with talk. Ministers and members of Parliament set a bad example by talking too much and too often, and by giving deputations too much latitude. All over the country tills example is followed, until one begins to think that after all people really do Tike. listening to a dozen speeches at the opening of a school, or twenty toasts at a breeders’ dinner.

The great speeches of - history are the product of' genius, and all the-' teaching in the world will not raise talent to that level. Lincoln wrote his Gettysburg address on a sheet of paper as lie drove to the ceremony, and it occupied but a few minutes. The chief orator that day delivered a carefully prepared oration lasting a couple of hours, and it has been quite (forgotten. But Lincoln’s immortal address illustrates the rules that Mr Justico MacGregor laid down,; Have something to say, say it clearly and briefly, and then stop. That is the foundation of good speaking; the graces can he added. How seldom, however, do we find graces in the speeches of our public men; how infrequent is the felicitous phrase, the telling allusion! As for pleasantness of tone and ease in phrasing, speakers of Maori blood are noticeably superior to ' their white neighbours. The pakeha seems to be just as fond as the Maori of interminable debating, but how less interesting he makes it! Can anything be done? The public has the remedy in its own hands; it can politely refuse to he bored. That, however, is a counsel of perfection. Much could be done by definite encouragement of the speaking art at the schools and university colleges. The university centres especially should set the standard of accent, lucidity and brevity, and it has already been suggested that the proposed Fine Arts establishment at the Auckland Universit\’ College should provide ' instruction in speech. This is no unimportant extra. It is part of education, part of the national culture which the whole educational system is supposed to serve.

“Heavy smoker, Sir?” asked a passenger aboard the Christchurch-Dun-: edin express, addressing his vis-a-vis, who ha'd just “obliged with 1 a match.” “Pretty fair,” laughed the other, ‘four or five ounces a week.” “By Jove!” was the reply, “if I smoked all that I’d be a nervous wreck in a month 1” “What sort d’you smoke?” queried No. 1. He named the brand. ‘Ah! that’s American, and, like most foreign brands rank with nicotine. It wouldn’t do me. I smoke New Zealand Navy Cut. Wonderful stuff! Hardly any nicotine in it. Can’t hurt you however much you smoko. Cheaper than imported and better, too. You see, it’s toasted. That cuts out the nicotine. The manufacturers? National Tobacco Co., I believe. My preference is for their Navy Out No 3. Beautiiful flavour. And" won’t harm* the tongue. Other brands of theirs (all toasted) are Riverhead Gold, Cavendish, and Cut Plug No. 10. My tobacconist tells me he sells more - f these goods than any other. All toasted, that makes them absolutely safe.”—Advt.