VOICE OF THE PRESS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 69, 18 October 1930, Page 4

VOICE OF THE PRESS

COMMERCIAL ORGANISATION. Now that tlie Associated Chambers of Commerce—which in future must be regarded, like the United Stales, u.s of the singular number —has become a real factor in the progressive life, of the trade and commerce el' the Dominion, it cannot escape attention from the public. The Associated Chambers has absorbed (he New Zealand Taxpayers' Federation, which did much excellent work dining the eight or nine years of its existence, and the Nineteen Twenty-Eight Committee, which pioneered the way for the co-operation of the three bodies in the public interest. The Ass-)-dated Chambers will hold its first general meeting under its new conditions at Mount Cook at the end of this month, when a large body of commercial men will gather at this impressive landmark to shape the future of an inspiring scheme which aims at becoming a national as well as an industrial undertaking. The organisation can scarcely fail to be one of the most important projects of its kind yet launched in this country.—Wanganui Herald.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS, In the discussions of education which have boon rampant during the last two years some of the hardest things have been said about tht» secondary schools. The degree in which they are dominated by requirements of the matriculation examination, their "academic bias," which would be natural if all their pupils meant to proceed to the university, to which only a small fraction of them go, and their predominance of untrained ieachers, have been inevitable points of attack. It is mere justice to note, therefore, what can be said on the other side, as it is set forth by the chief inspector for secondary schools in his annual report now to hand. Mr. Parr's report has value in indicating that some at least of those who are directly concerned with tbe conduct of secondary schools arc aware of their deficiencies, and are doing their best to end them. The lirst matter discussed is a system of leaving certificates which would relieve the present oppression of matriculation. What is needed is a certificate which would have the same value as a matriculation pass when a boy was seeking employment, without making it necessary for him to sit for that particular examination, or for the whole work of his school to be governed by its requirements. Mr. Parr has come to the conclusion that the end would he- best met by certificates granted on the results of an independent examination taken by secondary school pupils, not intending to go on to the university, at the c!os~ of their third or fourth year.—Dunedin Star.

TARIFF QUESTIONS. The debate on Imperial economic relations at the plenary session of the Conference of Empire Prime Ministers on Wednesday would be distinctly disappointing to those who expected that a lead would be given by the Sscretary for the Dominions, Mr. .1- H. Thomas, on behalf of Britain. Mindful, however .of the publicity from the debate Mr. Thomas was careful to make no more than a statement of Britain's trade, and at the same time to show the effects of the "economic blizzard." That such an important question should have occupied but one day has also surprised some critics, and there appears good reason for the cabled statement that the British Government is apparently eager to pet the most awkward problem of the whole Conference to the committee stage, with less complete publicity. This viewpoint finds endorsement in Mr. Thomas' statement that the plenary session gave the opnortunitv for setting outT broadly the economic position of the various Dominions, the details to be developed later in com-mittee.—Ma-mwatn Standard.