CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6269, 24 July 1907, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

It was interesting to watch the Minis? ter of Lands ■ delivering his first ■ Hphd Bill speech of the session last night. There was ’promise in- his -demeanour of oven more spirited things, to come', Ordinarily' Mr McNah quietly addresses’: the House from the security of a middle Ministerial bench, hut when replying to Mr Massey ho advanced, in his eagerness, step after step, until another move would have carried him off the raised platform to the carpeted floor. Nobody ’ enjoyed’ the reply to Mr Massey more than did the Minister of Lunds himself, and it ia,evident that he looks.forward to the Land Bill campaign in the House with confidence and a keen delight in the anticipated fight. THE LOT OP THE BABE. One of the saddest oases. of poverty that has cropped up lately was ventilated' yesterday, at a meeting of the Benevolent Trustees.' It. was that of a mothen —•so poor as to bo unable to do more than “live with another , woman”—who came, before the - Board with a s;ck, yellow-coloured baby in her arms. The infant lied - had pneumonia, .and was then suffering from whooping cough and bronchitis. “That baby ought not t<r bo out,” remarked ope of;the trustees'.' “i know that,”Was the mournful answer, “but they would not take it in at the Hospital." “Why?” asked the chairman. “Because of the whooping cough. The child, is .like to die in my arms. It is ' suffering great pain," said, the mother. Further questioning elicited that tho room in which this woman; and her baby lived actually contained no fireplace. The sad let of the babe appealed so strongly to-the' trustees that they gave the mother, an order for medical assistance for it, and instructed their lady visitor to supply necessities at once, and to try and obtain a room whore a fire could be kept for the sick 'inf qnt’s sake. : , TARIFF EXPLANATIONS. Some electrical engineers in the colony will feel sorry that when the Minister for Customs approached them some months ago to secure their assistance in making a classification of electrical appliances they made no response. Perhaps they did not know at the time, but the Minister’s intention was to increase the duty on electrical: machinery and place a number of electrical requisites, such as copper and insulated wire, upon the free list. Having failed to secure expert help, the Hen, J. A. Millar, in order to make no mistake.from a revenue point of view, put all electrical appliances under one classification, with a duty of 20 per cent. The Minister for Customs is receiving more attention from deputations than any other member of Cabinet. He has commenced explaining some of the increased duties, and it may. be taken for granted that be will he called upon to deal with the whole series before the flood of deputation oratory ebbs. Yesterday Mr Millar showed why it was deemed desirable to double the duty of 10 per cent upon imported electrical machinery. Steam machinery already bears a 20 ipef cent, duty, so the Government will place its modern rival upon the same fooling,' otherwise “Where will etcam machinery be ?” asks the Minister. Until our enormous waterpower resources are developed, steam is likely to retain its footing to a great extent as a generator, of the easilyhandled and more adaptable electrical power. To the representatives of local authorities who suggested that it was had finance to impose heavier, duties on imported machinery and plant paid for out of borrow-cd money, the Minister for Customs’ replied that the policy of the Government of assisting local industries, without pre j udicing the primary industry,, agriculture, would not be departed from. He hopes to see our youth given full opportunity tp secure a training in all branches of , industry, without forcing thorn to leave their home-land to da bo. THE IDEAL SCHOOEKOOIf.

In the course of bis lecture on "School Hygiene" last night Dr Mason, Chief

Health Officer, said his ideal schoolroom would b© on the ground floor, because, in the case of wooden buildings, the scholars upstairs might disturb those on the ground floor. T|ic floor should have a proper pitch, eo that the scholars at the back might have a clear view of the board over the heads of thoee in front. The room—just like a hospital ward—should not bs too t big. One teacher could only teach a certain number of scholars at a time. Fewer than the proper number was a waste of the teacher's energy; too many was bad both for teacher and scholars. The window space should be ample, and the casements should not come too low down* A clear view of the busy street, or of the outei'de world, was not conducive to close application. The windows should open at the top at an angle so ,as to permit of adequate ventilation where natural agents were depended upon. The walls should be of well cramped tongue and groove ■ smooth wood, or. hotter still, of plaster. In the ease of wood they should bo painted with a paint such as “Donaccord,” which gave a smooth, washable, surface. The corners should bo rounded oft" eo tin dirt could not collect in the angles. Above all, there must bo sufficient air space. THE TRAINED TEACHER. In the course of some introductory remarks at Dr Mason's lecture at the Training College last night Mr R. Lee (chairman of the Wellington Education Board) had seme interesting remarks to make about what was required in teachers to make them of ueo and influence in. the furtherance qf . education. Looking back over forty years ho could see that the great : want until now had been the "trained” teacher. Not ,that we had been altogether without them. He mentioned certain gentlemen who ho considered owed their present high rank, in the teaching profession to the fact that they were thoroughly trained .men, with all that was necessary in the making of a teacher- at their fingers' ends. He noticed that at the late conference on education in England the best speakers hod said-that what was wanted in f eachera was ""the, power- to teach.” Though •a great deal depended, of . course, upon the ■ teacher’s ability and aptitude. ,a great deal more depended upon • training —in other words Upon the " guidance, knowledge, and information which was given to any person to fit him for any walk in life." A teacher had to study the minds and different characters , of the children he taught, and to ascertain their particular aptitude fop learningHe must be able to stoop down to them and show them clearly what to Jo. Unless he had these qualities ha was more or lees n failure. Mr Leo expressed gratification that the Wellington Training College, was beginning so earnestly the work of training Teachers. If the institution were given , tiffiß he was: convinced that the education: of the dominion would greatly benefit by it.