NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Educating Critics

Prevalent criticism that education was not as good as it used to be was discussed by the Acting Director of Education, Mr A. F. McMurtrie, when lie addressed the annual conference of the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Association in Dunedin yesterday. “ Our duty,” he said, “ is to take notice of the critics and let them examine what we are doing in the hope that we may educate the critics.” He felt that if those who criticised educational methods were to visit the schools and “ sit in,” criticism of a destructive nature would die away.

Smoke Screen A thick pall of smoke still lingered in the Supreme Court when the afternoon sitting began yesterday. Caused by a fault in the heating system, the smoke came swirling up the stairs leading to the dock during the midday adjournment. A member of the legal profession was heard to say that proof had at last been shown that the courtroom possessed a heating system.

Brief Diversion “I thought at least our court was waterproof,” smilingly remarked Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court yesterday as a steady drip of water began to fall on the courtroom floor. The foreman of the jury assured his Honor that they were not disconcerted, and the case was resumed as a court official arrived with a bucket to catch the water.

Textile Colleges “Industry has had a marked effect on technical education .in Australia,” said Mr H. Henderson, supervisor of post-primary education, at the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ conference yesterday. A textile college had been established at Geelong, and it was planned to build another at Sydney, while there was an increasing emphasis on ceramics at technical schools. “These trends will soon make themselves felt in New Zealand,’ he said. Early Technical Education

Technical education in New Zealand started in Dunedin in 1889, when the need for organised instruction was first realised, said the principal of the King Edward Technical College, Mr W. G. Aldridge, at the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association in the college yesterday. For the first 11 years of its existence the college managed to progress, although only nominal fees were charged. No salaries were paid to teachers—and there were no conferences.

Lodestars Delayed Held up by bad weather, two Lodestar aircraft operating on the Auckland-Dunedin service did not arrive at Taieri aerodrome until after 5 p.m. yesterday, the first being scheduled to arrive at 1.35 p.m. and the second at 3.30 p.m. As a result there were no flights north from Dunedin after 11.55 a.m. because the aircraft due at 1.35 p.m. was to have left at 1.40 p.m. Passengers who were to have flown on that run will be taken this morning when an additional flight will be made. There was no interruption to the service between Dunedin and Invercargill.

and Tobacco

Beer and tobacco—which he included under the heading of "conventional necessities ” —were favourite subjects for Ministers of Finance, and some countries seemed to be trying to get out of their financial difficulties by taxing people’s vices, said the Government Statistician, Mr G. E. F. Wood, in an address in Christchurch. Mr Wood was explaining the difficulty of making decisions on the . items which should be included in the cost-of-living index. “ Perhaps beer and tobacco should be included in the index as a healthy reminder to Ministers of Finance not to tax them too heavily,” he added.

Religion in Schools The introduction of religious instruction in schools was strongly advocated by the retiring president of the Wellington School Committees' and Educational Association, Mr W. B. Tocker, at the annual meeting of the association. “It has always seemed d paradox to me,” he said, "that although AngloSaxon civilisation is based on the tenets of Christianity, yet we refuse to allow Christianity to be taught in our'schools. I am not Advocating any form of sectarian instruction, but rather broad undenominational teaching of Christian principles. There have been many unsettling events in the world during the past decade, and young people must' have ideals around which their lives can be moulded.” , Artificial Limbs

The supply and fitting of artificial limbs maintained steady progress throughout the year, most of the World War II amputees having been supplied with one limb, while a good number received a second limb. Of those ready for a limb, only 14 were on the waiting list or were in the process of being fitted, states the annual report for presentation to the Dominion conference of the New Zealand War Amputees’ Association, which is to be held in Christchurch from Mav 19 to May 21. Limbs fitted to World War II amputees since the last annual report totalled 156, while 103 were fitted to World War I veterans. Civilian amputees had been fitted with 102 limbs, and six limbs had been supplied to amputees from overseas. Housing for Teachers The provision of housing and other accommodation for teachers is to be one of the main objectives of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute. A remit on these lines was carried by the annual conference -yesterday. The institute also decided to make every effort to have regulations framed to compel education boards or the Education Department to supply adequate housing for teachers in conjunction with, or independent of, the State Housing Department, as it was claimed was done by some other Government departments. The conference also carried a remit from the Marlborough branch that furniture of a modern design be supplied to all schools, and that the interiors of schools should be painted so as to bring them in line with best modern practice. Nylon-wool Fabric

A new wool fabric which may revolutionise light-weight wool apparel has been produced, it is reported in the manufacturers’ section of the New Zealand National Review. Weighing from li to 7 ounces a square yard, this new fabric is claimed to be four times as strong os any known wool fabric of similar weight. It is made from a blending of 95 per cent wool with 5 per cent, or less nylon. Woollen yarns of as fine as 50 skeins or worsted yarns of 100 to 120 counts have been spun round a verv fine core of nylon thread, itself so fine that i'. is almost invisible to the naked eye and imnerceptible to touch in the ultimate fabric. Fabric woven from this yarn has the appearance and feel of an all-wool cloth, and can be dyed, printed and processed in the normal fashion.