LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16619, 16 August 1917, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

BATTLE OF THE ANCRE PICTURES.

Sir,ln common -with other t headmasters, I arranged {or the day students attending this college to see the "Battle of the Ancre" pictures at the Town* Hall this afternoon. Some 500 of our students and instructors, and probably another 1500 from other public schools and colleges were in attendance. The performance was timed to commence at two o'clock, but it was nearer half-past before a start was made, and then, as soon as the electric light* were switched off, it was obvious that the pictures would be almost invisible on. A c count of the brilliant light in the hall, so brilliant, in fact, that it was quite possible to readily see the small print of a newspaper or to read seconds on a : watch. On, my complaining to the manI agement, I was informed that the covering | over the windows to block out the dayI light, and which was one thickness of blind ! only, had been sufficient on the other davs j because the weather had been dull, and ; they were quite surprised to find that it | was entirely inadequate to-dav because the sun was shining. I was further informed that the management of the pictures was not in any way responsible as the City Council had guaranteed to have the hall properly darkened for daylight performances. The management, 'it "is true, was quite willing to give free passes to enable t.iose present this afternoon to witness the performance at some other time, but this does not meet the bill, as most schools are unable to spare another afternoon this week (the last during which the pictures are shown in Auckland), and many of those present come from the country by train and are unable to witness the" performance in the evening, whilst on Saturdays their free railway passes to the school are not available. My object in bringing this matter before the public is- to prevent headmasters and others being again humbugged in this entirely unjustifiable manner - George George,

o j j . ' Director, Seddon Memorial Technical College, * August 15, 1917. . THE TIVOLI THEATRE SERVICE. * Sir,—ln connection with the "reference" to the Auckland Presbytery in regard to the above sen-ice our representatives at the. presbytery made it clear that Sa *, act *? m strict accordance with the presbytery book of order. there is nothing in the letter of the book of order which states that the presbytery or surrounding churches are to be consulted about* the preaching of the Lrospel within the bounds of our *own parish. Paragraph 28 was quoted by a leading member of the presbytery as proof that, we had acted wronglv" A careful reading will show that the particular paragraph has no reference to such a case as the one before the presbytery, but refers entirely to the formation of a new congregation. In regard to the point of etiquette raised by the Rev. J. M. Saunders, Mr. Murray made it clear that he informed Mr. Saunders of the proposal at the earliest possible moment. 'In regard to the reference itself, the book of order states {par. 350b): "The court considers (1) whether the reference has come up in a regular manner; (2) whether there were sufficient grounds for making it. If satisfied on these points the court susstains the reference." Neither of these two points were considered. Hence the action of the presbytery in sustaining the reference must be illegal. The reference stated that St. David's evening congregation would be adversely affected, as jiid the one from St. James's. Yet neither sessions were asked to give proof that this had happened. On the other hand the minister of St. James's stated that his last two Sunday evening services had not been at all affected. The same holds good for the services of St. David's. The motion of the Rev. Isaac Jolly is entirely void, forit was clearly stated that so far no services in the name. of St. Andrew's Church had been held in the ■ theatre. The adherence to a doubtful point in s the book of order appears to bulk larger in the -minds of some members, of presbytery, than does the eternal salvation of their fellowmen. Such is the business of the Tivoli mission services, and will continue to be until the Lord shall come. ?"*.*'?." / A. Ward Campbell, ~ Session Clerk, St. Andrew's.

PROMOTION OF TEACHERS. Sir,— correspondents have drawn i attention to the fact that the Education i Board does not use the New Zealand j grading list in determining the promotion lof teachers. It is to be hoped that the j board will continue not to use the list until its many faults have been corrected. ' There was much discontent among Auckland teachers when the first list appeared, and this discontent has become intensified since ; the second list was published. "Justice" is quite wrong when he says that Auckland teachers. are, graded by. Auckland inspectors. The inspectors grade according to an inflexible system laid down by the Assistant Director of Education, and many of them admit that j the system is a bad one. • It is inequit- ! able, for it assumes that all inspectors think alike, that they, have a thorough knowledge of all teachers- in New Zealand, and that the conditions in all districts are the same. If the inspectors of each district grade their own teachers how are we to account for the great difference in the relative position of teachers on the first New Zealand list and their posij tion on the Auckland Board's list? Why ( are some teachers many places .below their I fellows on our list and far above them !on the other? Why are teachers of equal | efficiency on the Auckland list separated I by many places on the New Zealand list? And can it be explained how the relative merits of a teacher in Ota go and one in Auckland can be assessed by inspectors who have seen only one at work, and who have no common standard of appraisement? The New Zealand scheme may work well in the distant -future, provided that-, the best inspectors make regular tours' of the whole Dominion and acquaint themselves with the great bulk of teachers and the conditions prevailing ' in each dis- ! trict. To rigidly enforce the scheme now with its many anomalies would, I feel sure, seriously injure the cause of education. Square Deal. SUMMARISED LETTERS. • C. E. Major urges that interned enemy subjects be employed at a fair wage at road-making. Wm. Gordon urges more liberal treatment of old ago pensioners in the direction of permitting them to own a comfortable home without deduction from the pension. He says: "If a limit is fixed it should not be less than £800. For my part I would make it £1000, to cover every case that may crop up." "Nationalist" comments on the recom-* mendation of a British Commission with regard to the relation between restriction of liquor and industrial unrest, and adds: " The finding . of this commission will doubtless lead to a further relaxation of the restrictions imposed by the - Central Control Board upon workers in munition areas. A further revelation as to the necessity for - alcoholic beverages at this time has just been made known-by a circular addressed from the Admiralty and the War Office to the distillers and wine and spirit merchants in Great Britain, who in turn are appealing to importers and general dealers for supplies of rum for the navy and the troops at the front." J. W. McLarin, sen., says that with the coming fine weather we are likely to be troubled to an exceptional extent by mosquitoes. He also says local authorities could easily destroy most of them .if; the breeding-places, the pools, and lagoons, or wherever water is lying, were sprayed over the surface occasionally : with kerosene on the approach of warm weather. . '