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New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 4

The Board of Education hare had several discussions which hare been " ? teresting, instructive, and even amtub!" We think, however, there is no question that the defeat® which took place* yeste day on tighHacing, thin shoes, and hi ,v heels, 13 as attractive reading as we have lately had. The & calisthenics, and the circular .haa issued Oil finding that the lad in, * stretch their !«§» freest™ W exigencies of modern roatume n circular is especially directed at pupils at the Girls' Hi"h School , beyond them, at all the female cupilTof the common, schools. We rjz£ r ff circular if the Board Si step necessary, although, it may be qcit ! useless and ineffective. The wrrl-JA ihe _ teachers and ptipils are impeded and injured by their dress, the w25 no option but to. endeavour to iXfnl he minds of parents, and to miti»aK tyranny of fashion by the issue of adre Jar It is, perhaps, a question whetWTj, Board should have descended to thl r ® latest fashion •in boot heoU n i • b. .hougW that th, sSV''» indeed, that .it was its dutv tn jall matters of dress an* diet BuTZ wis found to be all a mistake Th d of sumptuary laws are past. Vaftion tS been stronger than Governments, and™ no j live under the tyranny 0 f fasWo " and not of rulers. It show, great couJe on the part Of the Board of Education to descend into the arena t<) combat with fashion* seeing that that power has besides the power of rulers, vanquished the sense of beauty, the love of ease and comfort, not to mention the regard to health. We aro, afraid that the" Board will not be able to effect much against this formidable opponent, but the Chairman snd those who voted with him will have the consolation that they have done their duty. The mpst remarkable feature Of the discussion was. that Mr. W. p Buckland, who is himaelf an athlete, and a fine specimen of physical development came Out as the champion of stays and.thm shoes. The Board, in their circular, rest chiefly on the opinions of recognised authorities on this special subject but Mr. Budkland hesitates not to speak as one who has. penetrated the mysteries, of female costume* He knows the exact proportion of women who lace tightly, and he tells his fellow members that "to'raiia girls without stays made them simply objects all the rest of their lives." Bus Mr. Luke, does not profess any special personal knowledge as to the use. of corsets, but cites the two statues of Venus in our Museuui as showing how much beauty the female form may attain to without the aid of tight lacing. The Board's authorities and Mr, Luke appear to us to have the best of the argument.