YOUNG FARMERS' SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21986, 22 June 1933, Page 2

YOUNG FARMERS' SCHOOL

ANOTHER FULL PROGRAMME YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS The Young Farmers’ Educational Course, which is being attended by 93 young men from all parts of Otago, was continued yesterday, when the visitors spent a very busy day. Two lectures were delivered in the morning, the first by Mr Colin Gilray (principal of'the John M'Glashan College), who spoke on “ Our Literary Heritage,” and the second by Mr J. Renfrew White, F.R.C.5.,. who lectured on “ Health.” In the afternoon the party visited the Otago Museum, where they were addressed by Dr Ben-ham and Mr H. D. Skinner. In the evening the party went to the pictures, and were later entertained at supper by the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union.

“ OUR LITERARY HERITAGE.” Mr Gilray commenced by stating that they all appreciated the fact that they had had the good fortune to be born British subjects. One reason why they should do this was because they thereby acquired the tongue in which the first authorised version of the Bible was written. It was also the tongue in which Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and Scott wrote. He placed British writers on a level above all others. Part of their literary heritage was built up around the initial authorised translation of the Bible at Oxford in 1611. Headed by Mr J. Reynolds, an inspired group of men had given us a translation in which all the work that had gone before them had been incorporated, and in which none of the freshness and colour of the earlier efforts had been lost. That version of the Bible was a wonderful possession, and subsequent writers—men who had had no very great education — had gained their inspiration and wisdom from its pages. John Bunyan was but one example of the genius that had sprung from a study of the Bible. Mr Gilray quoted passages to reveal the beauty "of the lines penned by the early Hebrew writers, and went on to illustrate the rhythm inculcated into the works of the same period. After exhorting his listeners to cultivate an appreciation of the great narratives of the Bible, the speaker added that any experience whatever might be material for poetry, and by reflection of the poet’s mind be revealed to us in all its marvellous beauty. The wonderful thing about literature was that we were able to share the poet’s joy of creation. He was sorry that New Zealanders did not read more poetry. Many of them were always ready to read novels, not all of which were literature. Quite a number of people read detective stories. There was no harm in that—he read them himself when he felt tired —but the fact remained that detective yarns were not literature. In a literary work the personal traits of the characters had a vital influence on the story, whereas in lighter fiction the action was bound together by a series of accidents, many of them sensational. Among the extract from British poetry which Mr Gilray then read were some from Shelley’s “ Ode to the West Wind,” a masterpiece that illustrated the wonderful iniagery that enabled the reader to depict everything clearly. In dealing with prose the lecturer said that many good books were being written to-day, though hitherto .in his talk he had been concentrating' on classical writings, because in that sphere one was always Sure of finding good literature. An appropriate passage read by Mr Gilray was a great discourse on the fascination of ploughing, taken from “ Farmer’s Glory,” by A, G. Street. It would be seen that all poetry' was not in verse, continued the speaker. Verse might well be termed: creative- poetry, while literary prose could often be called recorded poetry. The important factor about literary art was that all the component parts were related, resulting in a pleasing compactness from which no detail could be spared without distinct loss to the whole conception. Mr Gilray gave analysed excerpts from Shakespeare, and in conclusion gave his audience a few general hints on the value of evening reading in the course of their farm life.

Mr A. B. Strothers, who also spoke, stressed the value of reading aloud as a means of appreciating the full beauty of literature.

Mr Gilray recommended as a guide to good literature a work called “ Better Than Gold,” published in Auckland under the authorship of Mr J. H. Harvey. On the motion of Mr C. Wilson (Glenomaru), the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. “ HEALTH.” At the outset of his address Mr" White stated that, as had been remarked by the chairman, he was a busy mau. He was busy undoing what should never have been allowed to take place. Doctors were continually being called upon to repair bodies which had been adversely affected by incorrect modes of living. In some cases it was impossible to achieve this object, in some it was possible, but in the majority of cases it was an unsatisfactory undertaking. Much trouble could be avoided by studying the human frame and what it needed to furnish a complete bill of health. The human body was a complicated machine with a framework of bones. It was due to the nature of his bones that a born jumper could not help but come to the fore in athletic sports, and similar rules applied to men who were seen at their best in other athletic spheres. Muscles were a wonderful feature, of our bodies, and, in conjunction with bones, supplied a most important part of our physical beings. The speaker went on to deal with physiological principles and nutrition, expressing the view that education should include training in the use of our bodies ,as well as of our minds. In Central Otago one found the atmosphere and conditions, for ideal growth as nearly perfect as it was possible to find anywhere, and yet while visiting a school in that district in 1930 he had discovered a state of affairs that was little short of disgraceful. Children were suffering from disorders of various kinds which should never have come into existence. He was not saying that this particular school was worse than any others he had visited, but in this case, taking the environment into consideration, there was no excuse for the troubles he had seen. Lack of a variety in vegetables and the over-use of white bread as a substitute for brown bread were among the factors which contributed to malnutrition. The ideal diet always included plenty of vegetables and fruit and wholesome natural foods.

In stressing the importance of fresh air Mr White urged his listeners to keep their windows open by day and by night. Correct postures in games, exercises, and in actions in every walk of life were also treated by the speaker, who concluded by summarising the alimentary functions, with particular reference to the importance of caring for the mouth and teeth by means of watching the diet as well as by regular cleaning.

A number of questions were replied to, and on the motion of Mr R. Pannett (Ashley Downs) Mr White was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, AT THE MUSEUM. A long afternoon was spent in the Museum, where the party was assisted to a better appreciation of the significance and interest of the exhibits by explanatory comments by Professor W. Bonham and Mr H. D. Skinner. Practically the whole of the Museum was covered by the leisurely tour of the various departments upon which the visitors were conducted. Dr Bonham had some particular comments to make on the subject of bird life, and outlined briefly the very important place they hold in Nature’s scheme of things. He spoke of the varying adaptability of the different types of birds and commented on their usefulness to the man on the land in the constant war which they wage on insect and other pests. He discussed the native birds of New Zealand and their habits using models to illustrate the point of his remarks. Among the birds which he dealt with were the robin, the whistling i duck, the tom-tit, the weka, the pukeko, I the kea and the kiwi. | The lecturer answered a number of questions and at the conclusion of bis talk he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr P. Morrish (Tahatika).

Mr Skinner conducted the party through the Fels Wing, and devoted a lot of time to the explanation of the exhibits on both floors. He had a very interested audience round the reconstructed Maori war canoe, the origin and history of which he outlined, lie dealt at some length with-the hundred year old carving to be found on the vessel, which he said was fashioned I after a model used by Te Rauparaha, ' who, it was thought, presented the bow ! and stern piece to Taiaroa as a gift. After describing in the construction and uses of the canoe Mr Skinner i remarked that it was the second largest canoe of its kind in the Dominion, the ! 80-foot vessel in Auckland being the largest. He then took his guests to the Maori house, where he delivered a short talk, in the course of which he outlined its history from the time of its commencement as a part of the dowry of a Maori belle through its chequered ! career at the Melbourne Exhibition, when | it was erected inside out, at the Vic- | toria and Albert Museum, where it lay j for 40 years, at the Dunedin Exhibition, j up to the time of its final renovation by I Mr Hall after it had become the property of the Otago Museum. A brief survey of the other New Zealand exhibits completed the visit to this department, and the party moved to the j upper floor, where Mr Skinner acted as guide and interpreter. At the conclusion of the visit Mi J. Ewing (North Otago) moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers, the motion being carried by acclamation. TO-MORROW’S SESSION. At the morning sessioh to-day Mr James Hogg will speak on “ The Romance of Industry and Commerce,” dealing with the world-wide aspect, Mr C. V. Smith (sales manager and a director of Cadbury Fry Hudson, Ltd.) will speak on “ How Modern Business Is Conducted,” giving some idea of modern requirements, developments, etc., and the fact that such things as advertising pay. Mr A. C. Cameron will speak on “ Some Interesting Aspects of Our Export Trade and the Handling of Some of Our Products Overseas.”