STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 271, 8 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

I From Our .Resident .Reporter. OHieo: Next Lo:iu & Mercantile Agency lu. ji ii lia. SOME SCHOOL QUERIES. THE TREATMENT OE CHILDREN. Reader, were you cold on Monday morning? Did yon get the icy fuel of tlie hail-laden southerly wind? Were yon s 1 :iiii.jiiny and swinging your arms about, in an endeavor to get warm? T)id you stick as close as you could to tlie lire, or, it necessary to venture into the street, did you (ion eoat, muffler and gloves? Anyhow, wasn't it cold? Did yon send your children to school .it Stratlord? Were any of them in the infant school? Did you ask them Whether it was cold there? And did the}' tell you they had to stand in a Concrete-floored and fireless porch for their reading lessons? Whether they told you or not, it is a fact. A News scribe had occasion to visit the school, and it came somewhat as a shock to learn by actual observation that this was the treatment meted out to the little mites of "Primer II." It ;is worth while to wonder how the Minister of Education would like it, and to wonder whether he knows this is the state of affairs. A teacher says that for want of proper classrooms this statq of a pairs continues right through the winter. Does anyone think it is fair? Qn a .wet day, with coats and hats drip, ping moisture all around, should these poor., shivering children be compelled to avail themselves under these circum--Btanc,es of our vaunted.free and compulsory system of education? ' If ]the accommodation at the schools is so ( limited, why not increase it? If, when, the weather is as cold as now, this porch must be used, why not heat it? ;

, STRAY PARAGRAPHS The gale interfered some with the elcctf-ic' light and telephone wires. Mis. E. J. Moore, of Sydney, who has been visiting friends in Stratford, left for Plymouth on Saturday to connect wiili the Rarawa for Auckland, w lie rice she 1 sails on her return to Sydney. :

Thie newly-formed gymnastic club promises to secure a very large membership. The Stratford Municipal Brass Band has decided to enter for the band contest iit Auckland in 1914, and is putting ill solid practice'. The hand will start at oiiee to raise the necessary funds, or.l wilMiold a-concert about the middle o? May.

,T'i}! Stratford Poultry Society has decided' to hold its second show in 1913. The operations of the society in the yeat just bxsed resulted in a profit of about t:r 'iOK, besides which the assets are substantial. " - • "

' : The Premier passed through Stratford bv ntotor. ear for Hawera on Saturday .afternoon. He was met here by a number, if supporters, but broke his journey for only a minute or so. Despite his ,arduous travelling; baliquet'ting, 'speechifying'. and listening to deputations during the week, and the swallowing of (it is alleged) nine afternoon teas in' about a couple of hours, the Prime Minister looked as fresh as a daisy, and fit for ancHlier week of it.

From personal observation, this scribe can fix another feather in Stratford's cap, but' whether it will do much good is open to question. There is not the slightest doubt that the members of the Stratford deputations took the cake for jpng-windedness .as, far as the Premiers recent tour was concerned. It was noticeable at various places that the brief' and business-like presentment of cases appealed I to the Ministers. ' A solicitor- practising in Stratford some yea'rS ago was rated by his client for not laving stress on certain points in evidence presented. The lawyer's answer was: "I give the magistrate credit for enough brains to see something for himself." Xot a bad idea, either. The burgesses in the southern part of the borough are.considering the question of "runniriaf* a'candidate for the mayor-

ally. Certain names are mentioned, and tli'o-se individuals will be "sounded," Mr. D. .Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner, and "MY.' ('. -T. Tl'cakes, of the Stock Division of the Agricultural Department will' be two of Hip judges in the Stratford A. and P. Association's model dairy farm competition, ml the judfrintr will take place on or about April 25th. >

The Borough Council meets next Monluv evening. Among other matters the half-holiday petition will lie discussed.

The News representative"was told on Saturday "bv nil" enthusiast from another centre that Eltham. New Plymouth. Waitara and Tnglewood, are almost "morals" for Saturday closing, and reckons Stratford will be left out in the toht. A gun club has been formed at Toko.