CHILDREN’S TOE DANCING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1929, Page 6

CHILDREN’S TOE DANCING

DEFORMITY MAY FOLLOW. YOUNG FEET NOT STRONG ENOUGH Toe dancing by small children is criticised by a Hawera lady who witnessed each session of the recent Hawera compeitions. It is a practice of which she I does not approve, as it may lead to deformity. In conversation with a News representative, who pointed out to her that the dancing adjudicator, Miss Gwen Gibbs, had not commented on the practice, she stated that Miss Daphne Knight had strongly., disapproved of the class when judging in Hawera two years ago, and she had fully expected that Miss Gibbs would have had something to say on the matter. To substantiate her statement the lady stated tho expressed opinion of Miss Madeline Vyner, who, when judge of dancing at the Auckland competitions two years ago, announced at the conclusion of the dance section for children under nine, that she had not enjoyed the performance. “The committee,” Miss Vyner said on that occasion, “had been reluctant to include this particular class and had done so only under pressure.” Too dancing was difficult work and a great deal of technique was required in preparing children, who should not be allowed to perforin this dance unless their feet were strong enough to bear the strain. Although some children performed a toe dance to a certain degree of perfection they usually had their feet misplaced and their knees bene. Miss Vyner added that she had seen children threatened with deformed feet if they persisted in toe dancing. “That is not only my personal opinion,” Miss Vynor had stated, “it ,is supported by all the most reputable people in the dancing world.” She contended that toe dancing should not be performed by children under 12 years of ago at least. HAWERA ROTARY CLUB. AN ENTERTAINING SPEECH. The Hawera Rotary Club had a very pleasant luncheon gathering on Friday, a number of visitors attending. The principal guests were Professor Maxwell Walker, of Auckland, and Mr. Eric Moss, of Greymouth, two of the judges at the Hawera competitions. The president of the club, Mr. P. O. Veale. was in the chair.' After Mr. Moss had delighted tire gathering with a clarionet solo Professor Walker gave an address on the standard of speech of New Zealanders. It proved to be a most amusing entertainment as well as an educative address, the professor putting forward interesting proposals for the betterment of the spoken language. He has an idea which he considers will, if taken up by those having authority, make New Zealand the model for the whole Empire for pure English in the spoken word. He emphasised the fact that knowledge of the English language was largely acquired by imitation. The child learned by imitation tho speech of its parents and teachers. It was unfortunately the fact that.throughout the professions, including that of the teacher, there was a tendency to slur the speech. This defect was common with other nations than the British. He maintained that English as spoken in New Zealand was at least as good as that spoken in any part of the Empire, that was on the average, and. it was the average that must be taken. The comparatively small population would be an advantage to New Zealand if a definite attempt were made to make this country a model' for the Empire in English speech. The professor said that it would cost no more than £4OOO a year to put his idea for* bringing about this result into practice, but it required someone with power to give the scheme being. He advocated the appointment of professors of elocution at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and would make it compulsory for every teacher to take 'courses under one or other of these professors. The teachers would then be equipped to train their pupils, and they, as they came to maturity in due course, would pass on to their children the' benefit derived, and thus the national speech in course of time would become a model for the Empire. Later the professor delighted the company with anecdotes and elocutionary items which evoked merriment and applause. Incidentally, Professor Walker spoke of the great pleasure he felt to find one of his old pupils presiding at the gathering. Indicating Mr. Veale, he said: “This is a man who should have been a Rhodes scholar,” and he asserted that it was only due to unforeseen circumstances that this had - p t been so. This reference naturally pleased the Rotarians, and occasion was taken to acquaint Professor Walker.of the credit Mr. Veale had brought on himself and the district by his achievements in scientific dairy research work. Rotarian Bond expressed thanks on behalf of the club and other visitors present to Professor Walker and Mr. Moss for their attendance a-nd the pleasant time that had resulted.