POINTS IN EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18444, 4 January 1922, Page 4

POINTS IN EDUCATION.

..The London County Council has learnt, by a judicial decision, that an expenditure of £2745 which it incurred in sending children to the theatre at the ratepayers’ expense was illegal. Judgment was given recently in the High Court in a test case brought by the Finance Committee of the Council. in respect of the surcharge made, by the- auditor for the Miniqtjy of Health with regard to expenses incurred by the Council’s Education Committee • -in providing Shakespearean performances for -the children. ; On behalf of the County Council it was urged that the practice of taking children *to places of educational value and interest was recognised by the educational code and was an attendance qualifying for the educational grant.- In giving the Court’s decision the Lord'Chief Justice said that there was nowhere to be found in the statutes on the educational code any definition of elementary education, but it was admissible v to doubt whether attendance at performances of Shakespeare’s plays ever entered into the consideration of the framers of the Education Act of 1870 as being an item of elementary education. The question was whether these attendances at performances of Shakespeare’s plays were visits during school hours to places of educational value and interest. As examples comjng within the latter category he suggested that the House of Commons, Westminster Abbey, ,the Guildhall, and the Tower of London might be cited. But the Court, the Lord Chief Justice added, did not think that the London County Council was entitled to provide theatres and pay actors and actresses to'give performances. No doubt these theatres and halls in various /parts of London were admirably suited for -the purpose in view, but the Court could not say that they were places of educational value and interest, and held that the cod® did not justify the Council in the course which it had taken. The auditor’s triumph will be the children’s loss and disappointment. But let us hop© that the Educational Committee of the County Council will find a way of kill keeping Shakespeare to the foro to the benefit of the young people. Coincident with the High Court’s • decision above mentioned was the appearance of the report of the Committee appointed by the Board, of Education “to inquire into the position of English in the educational system of England.” Thif committee consisted of eminent educationists' and literary people with Sir Henry Newbolt at their head. Itsi members have felt it necessary to express their conviction that “English must form the basis of a liberal education for all English people.” In a footnote written before the Hij*h Court’s decision was given the committee expressed regret at the questioning of the legality of the ■ Shakespearean performances of the County Council, and it offered the strong opinion.; that means should be found of continuing this genuinely educational work, and that, if necessary, additional powers should be given to the local authorities for this purpose. There are passages in this report which might furnish food for reflection for many an educatiouist'hf the old school.' Thus it is said: “It was in no inglorious time of our history that Englishmen delighted in dance and song and the drama, nor were these pleasures the privilege of a class. It is to be hoped| that a rational use of the drama in schools may bring back to England an unashamed joy in pleasures of the imagination.” The Committee has some fine things to say' respecting the reading of the Bible in schools, and its claim as literature upon the time devoted to English studies. Speaking generally it observes : “We' believe that one of the mean® to the salvation of jhis country is the healing of the breach between culture and the common life of man. We declare that poetry and drama should be as free of the factory and the workshop as , they were of the village green and /moot-hall in the Middle Ages. And we look chiefly to a humanised industrial education to bring that about.” I

The Hon. W. Dowtiie Stewart (Minister of. Customs), aocompanied by hia private secretary, Mr L. E., Johnson,, arrived in Dunedin last evening, and is _ staying at Fernhill Club. Mr Stewart intends to spend a few days in Dunedin.- # *. . £ The Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Mines) arrived from Gore by the first express yesterday, and spent the. afternoon interviewing callers at the Grand Hotel. This morning the Minister will leave for Naseby,i where he will interview the miners and the local bodies with respect to the cbst of water from the •• Mount Ida race for mining purposes. On the following day Mr Anderson will leave by motor for Palmerston, where he will catdh the first express, en route for Wellington direct. During the New Year holidays the Botanio Gardens were a centre of great attraction not only to visitors to-i|ho, city but to local residents as well. Giving to their admirably sheltered situation they constitute a pleasant resort for spending an hour or two in contemplation of the beauties of Nature, and not a few visitors were heard to express the opinion tha-t the Dunedin Gardens would bear comparison with any in New Zealand. The rose walks and the various rose bods are still £ blazo of beautiful colour, and the sweet williams make a fine showing *of more subdued tints, the whole ’being tastefully' set off with a picturesque fringe of pansies and violas. -In the Winter Gardens the notable collection of plants, of a more exotic nature called' forth the highest admiration, and hero again there is a veritable feast of colour for i the eye. The "walks about the Gardens are all in excellent order, and the fine stretches of green, well-kept lawn addto the' restfulness of the whole scene. It would that the people of Dunedin are , realising more than'ever the. beauty of the Gardens, which undoubtedly form one of the chief scenic assets of the city. The local tramway receipts on Monday amounted to. £272 9s 2d, as compared with £284 17s lOd for the corresponding day of, last year. , The total takings over -the New Year holidays amounted to £IOB3 12s 2d, or about £52 less than for; the correspondin g period of last year. , ' At a very representoftivo ’ meeting of Tuapefca producers, '’held in Lawrence on Saturday night last, it was unanimously* resolved to support the Government’s meat pool, and Mr A. C. Leary, president- of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, was appointed a delegate to attend the con-, ference in Wellington next week. A telegram' from OHakune says ’that Mr ,T. A. Blyth has just completed his thirtieth ascent of Mount Ruapehu,), a dominion record. In .gathering data he has ascertained thaj; the crater lake is no warmer than in former -years, the temperature t ‘being 75 Fahr. This will come as a fact to scientists, the lake at one time 'consistently' decreasing in temperature, ; , , - V 1 • Gahoer continues, to stand high among causes of death in N New Zealand. ' In November/ according to. the Government Statistician, it accounted for 50 deaths ofifc of a total number of 407 in the urban areas.

For"the nine months ended September 30 last, the Government Statistician reporter, the approximate loss of wages due to J 53 industrial disturbances was £63,202. The disturbances affected 8002 workers, and lasted in all, 456 days. On Saturday last the railway traffic was fairly heavy. About 3QOO took their departure from Dunedin, and of these' about ,2200 were passengers for seaside resort*. )Of the 2200 something in the neighbourhood of 1000 travelled between Dunedin and '.Palmerston. Approximately 800 went south. The inward' traffic,: both, from the north and south, was very , heavy, but actual figures cannot be given, as the records ore kept in Invercargill and Christchurch. On Monday the total number of passengers leaving Dunedin by train was 5628, and of these 2100 went'to the Waikoutdti races., .About T2OO sought seaside resorts > on ’ the north liije between here and Palmerston, • end about 1000 travelled .south for places along the main route or for Central Otago. The Remainder took short ( trips to. Port Chalmers or Mopgiel. Not nearly so many people came .to town either from the north or south" as on Saturday, Last year 53 more persons went by rail to the Waikouaiti faces. More have devoted their attention to seaside resorts this year, and the outward traffic this year was generally heavier than' that of last year. Detailed figures beyond this are not available. ,

With reference to the rural mail' services from Palmerston, fee absurdities of which were dealt, with reootitly in our leading columns, ar suggestion has been made that the Hon, the Postmaster-general should be' asked to visit tho Waihcmo and other districts .concerned and look into tho matter for, himself. Should he consent, it is proposed to further respectfully suggest that such inspection would be much- facilitated, wore the Minister to arrive and depart by fee same motor mail service which he has just initiated as being so eminently suitable to| the reasonable requirements of the settlers.' The Minister would in. thairoa.se leave Wellington, Tor instance, on a Thursday; He would arrive in Palmerstqn on Friday, and spend the ensuing four nights in a. Palmerston public-house awaiting fee first available trip of his, new service, which, .will not ’be till the .following Tuesday,’ when he ivilL travel a few railed and arrive, say, at Waihemo. He will not be able to get away from there till fee succeeding Friday, and after another night in a Palmerston hotel he will reach Wellington on Sunday morning, which will only be the eleventh day from his start, and the shortest possible time in which the trip could be .performed by his own mail service. During the whole land trip ho will never be more than nine miles from a. railway station, and if Wellington business presses, his secretary, could (by rigidly avoiding fee mail service) easily make two or three trips there and back and rejoin his chief in time to begin the return journey. How * this kindly suggestion will recommend itself to th© Minister is as yet not ascertained; but if ho should regard ij; with the same satisfaction as he expects from the settlers, a few-more such trips to districts which have been similarly treated would, we afro ’ assured, be gladly arranged by fee residents concerned. , Elephants in a general way have acquired a reputation for a good deal of placidity, but when people are not accustomed to their peculiarities they are a trifle- aweinspiring. The other day, when Wirth’s Circus was entraining its menagerie, quite a crowd assembled to watch fee proceedings at close range, apd everything, went well until the elephant’s cage was being placed on its truck. Whether this particular elephant did not like fee process of elevation or whether ho possesses a sense of humour is not known, but just as fee open-mouthed crowd were watching him with the closest interest he gave’ forth an ear-piercing shriek and kicked his heels highSinto fee air. The wa/ in which, fee, crowd of spectators dived to left and right in search of cover is said to have been a wonderful sight, and for the rest of the morning they regarded the elephant •from a safe and respectful distance.

Shortly after at midnight on Saturday had announced the end of the old year and the birth of the new, habitues of the Grand Hotel who were! celebrating the advent of 1928 were startled by a loud crash, as of rending timbers (telegraphs the Auckland correspondent of the Christchurch Press). The kerb outside - was lined with motor oars, and one of them had suddenly started on a career,-of , destruction downhill. Crossing Princes street at. an angle, it mounted the footpath, i and collided with an old building on the comer, used as a Chinese laundry. It smashed tlie Chinaman’s window, disfigured his doorway, partly wrecked the verandah, ,and then took a trip across the street,' It dashed through a fence and fell 12ft or so into the reserve below, completely shatter-’ ing a garden seat in its fall. Fortunately the car had a clear run, and the seat was , empty at the time. The motor, strange to say, suffered but little damage. The Chinese occupier of tire damaged premises apparently slept throughout the crash, for "it was not until eariy on Sunday morning that he became aware of the state of his premises, “Velly stlong/ wind last bight, oh?" he queried of a few early spectators, adding, ‘T no hear.” The glint in his eye when he learned' that the havoc was not; due altogether to an 'act of God indicated that he was busy with the thought that tlie smash was after all not quite so irremediable as it might havo been.' " '

Why New Zealand,, rich in coalfields)* and h avi ng - ity, is -so expensive ’in running power for factories and other places of industry is a question which puzzles Mr W. M’Maater, a large Canadian manufacturer. “Why ia your coal so dear?”- ho asked a Press reporter. He said ; that the Dominion '(Canada) Coal Company sent ,coal by boat to Montreal for 1000 iniles, and in that city its cost waa only ,2Sa a ton. This coal was bituminous, and, while not as good as Westport,* was quite suitable for the furmjees. Mr M'Maater, speaking with regard to ; hydroelectric power, said he had not seen anywhere in Europe or'America a country / with such potentialities, and he was surprised, that New Zealand had not ,gone ’ , further in harnessing its water-power, which ' was now running to waste. The current ■> ■from the Canadian electric works on the \ Niagai-a was carried to towns and farms up do 200 miles away. , While expressing surprise that New Zealand exports so , imich .raw material, such as yvool, skins, ana hides, instead of hav- v ing it manufactured locally, two Largo Canadian manufacturers now visiting New Zealand said in the course of ah interview with a Press representative that it 'would bo. unwise 'vto .'institute-;a high’protective, tariff. In Canada the manufacturers did not want such a tariff) and the industries , did quite well without it. If wages and - other items in the cost of production were so high that the Now . Zealand factories could' not compete with foreign trade, the “fencing in” of those industries by a high protective tariff would not help the country to go forward. “You or© going to have a dear country if you have a scientific ' 7 tariff based on the high cost of labour -and ; production. If labour here is reasonable f in comparison with Other countries, you have. great potentialities for your industries,” remarked one of the Canadians, who also said that he had noted that the recant, New Zealand tariff was mostly for revenue purposes, and. not for protection. He con-, sidered New - Zealand was acting very in according preferential treatment to they British Empire, .-Asked for his opinion of Ratana and his '' movement,’states the New Zealand Herald, / the Rev. A. J. Beeper, general Bupprintopdent of Methodist Maori missions, said; “My staff and I have been intimately in touch with the movement frodi its inception, and one or 'of our' ministers lias always aocompanied Ratana. I myself havefrequently visited and interviewed him in -public and in private, and have seen much of his work, which-so far has commended U.self to my judgment. Ratana, is a strong and able man. - .His vision <ji /is a union of th© Maori race under the ban- v ner of the Christian God should have the ’support of thoughtful, men. He has .never opposed any Christian Church, but ha* gone definitely .along his own coarse, / preaching the Gospel 1 of Jesus Christ asho understands it, and has been' of vital assistance to thousands of people. If his movement be wisely controlled by has-great, possibilities. As long, as-he continues to acknowledge the supremet authority of our Lord Jesus Christ;! and keeps the Bible .as his rule of faith and practice, , ho will have the prayers and support of ■ every member our. staff as on honoured. ,00-worker." s \ In a recent cablegram it was stated that - - Sir Benjamin Robertson, K.C.S.L, K.C.M.G.) O.LE., Indian, famine expert, m ’ . was proceeding straightway to Russia os < British Empire Commissianer to inspect) the distribution of charitable, relief from - the British Empire. afid to advise upon future, plans.' Sir Benjamin Robertson hod been appointed to that position by the British Red Cross Society and fee Russian - Famine Relief Fund, which ia under the presidency of Lord Emmett Further, full approval has been given by his Majesty's N Government, who have contributed stordb to the amount of a quarter of a sinillian sterling. So much for the of fee appeal which, as oan be. seen, is absolutely outside the realm of partypolitics, add isr one that is mode on purely humani- ' tariah How great that need for '. help is can be partly realised by people who read fee English newspapers. Day after day* the Manchester Guardian, one of the most influential newspapers in England, publishes an/appoal for. funds,-often -withy the addition of statements from well- ' known people who- are carrying out relief work in' Russia. It is work feat must go , on da£ after day until _fee crops grow**, once more and are harvested. . ■ At fee outbreak of fee war fee little . ./ French gunboat Zeelee was lying in Papeete harbour. On learning -of fee approach :of yon Spbe’s squadron fee oom- , mandcr,' Lieutenant Destremaux, decided to > scuttle hjs ship, after landing her artillery for shore defence, : It does not appear to be disputed feat by taking this action Lieutenant Destremaux performed a most valuable service, ednoe upon /fee im> prevised coast battery opening fire - the g. Germans /sheered off, contenting themselves , with pitching a few shells into the. town) Had he instead gone out in the gunboat and ' offered .battle to the, Soharnhorsfc and 'Gnietenau his tiny ahiji would been destroyed at the first salvo, and very possibly,fee Germans, intoxicated wife this cheap victory, would have landed at Papeete , and indulged in a little “frightfulneas.” Yet fee French Minister of Marine of fee day, M. Augagneur, took &a adverse view; of Lieutenant Destremaux’s procedure and administered a severe reprimand, which the officer, vo axe told, took so much to heart that he died. Now are being made by .distinguished French admirals to sea that justice is publicly rendered to the memory of ,a gallant officer who “did the right thing under difficult cardumstancea.'-’ ; Evidently business;' in the hotel line has not been very brisk of late: Giv*' ing evidence at the Arbitration y Court at Palmerston North, Mr J. R. . Foster, of Wanganui, said feat never before in fee history of fee trade had there been such a small 'number 6l people travelling, while the number of people who patronised the liotels for social greeting,had also showed a considerable falling off. During the last six months the falling offi in some of fee takings of several of the Wanganui hotels ranged from 25 per cent, to 50 per cent. The Customs tariff which oamo into force four weeks ago was having a big effect. Several hotelkeepers could now only afford , to get their supplies from week -to week, instead "of in’, big quantities, as was previously the .case. This’condition of affairs was; not confined to Wanganui, for evidence was given by representatives from Palmerston North, Napier, and other places as to a similar condition of affairs. A Palmerston North witness said his house trade had dropped 75 per cent., and , bar takings 30 per cent. He. did not think.-.fee position ■would brighten up wifein at least 12 months. An accountant at Napier testified to fee decline jn business there, and- remarked - thafc hotel keeping was not a profitable propoai- •- lion at present. , ' The next issue of the Now'Zealand Year! ‘ Book will find it, restored to its, former size and circulation • (says the Dominion).. The Minister of Internal Affairs has aufeorisod a policy''which will result,in the permanent improvement of fee volume as a full and authoritative book of reference on, all branches of the dominion’s activities, - and all aeqieots of her/social and eoonomio, characteristics and progress. Pull, pull, pull; feat’s all the HarleyDavidson motor cycle knows, Otago agents? W. A. Justice and Co., Imperial Garage, 292 Princes street: Dunedin.—Advt./' There's nothing so good as “No-rub-bing” Laundry Help _and “Golden, Rule” Soap for perfect results and economical ■ use.—Advt. Crash Runners, .suitable for sideboards .or , table runners, hemstitched and embroidered in odours;- size 14 x 54. ’ Special price, 4s lid each. —Mollisons Ltd.—AdVt, Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth fee money.— Advt. ■ / . A E. J. Blakeley, dentist, .Bank o! Aus-_ ■ tralasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets' ■ , Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Christmas Jewellery.—Large seleotion dia- . mond rings, watches, brooches, pendant*,- ' and silverware. /'Special Christmas discount. . Peter Dick, jewellers, 490 Morey place.—Advt.