GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14480, 29 June 1911, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

OUR TELEPHONES. The general use of the telephon* system has struck Mr Hazletpn, tibe Irish Envoy, who recently visited Ti» maru. It «urprised himi to find tihai use nf the telephone was far more general than anywhere in the United Kingdom. And the service, he re-marked-to a "Herald" reporter, was so thoroughly up-to-date. Neither in England nor in Scotland or Ireland, did the telephone service come up tcl Now Zealand's standard .of efficiency. Though hut a minor instance, it was a distinct indication of tho progressiveness of the place. Few countriei outside America could boast bo excel. lent a system. RELICION IN SCHOOLS. A I'ress Association messages Btatey that an informal conference, composed principally of ministers of religion, wa« held at Christchurch yesterday tuorninjj; to discuss matters oonnreted with religious instruction in schools. After full discussion th-J following resolution was arrived at without dissent :—"Uiafl this conference approves of the general principles of the system of religious instruction which obtains in New Soutu Walta, Queensland, Tasmania and 'Western A'jstralU, and commends such sw the an'iy practical solution of the problem of reli'smim instruction in the State icHoola of New Zealand." As tbe inaltor i* order consideration by various church nr.mmitteee nothing furtlh'r oouW be clone, hut a, committee whs .ippninted to convene another oon> fercnec next year. LABOUR PARTY AND TITLEB. Thi following resolution was passed nt last night's inectua of the DuiKdin branch of thn Now Zealand Labour Party:—"That th s brunch nf tho New Zealand Labour I'nrty expi c-wes its iiiii{iinlilied condc m-.ut.iuii of the practice of granting titles for nollti.."il si.vv.ce.s in a democratic, country liUe New Zealand, and must especially hereditary t.tlc.s, and also lis intense llisjiust that the nominal header of the Labour I'arly formerly ur.der Air S.-dJon—• tho Liberal Labour I'urty—should bo the prim.;, factor in intrndueiiie; no objectionable class of distinctions into this criuntry; and desires to i .mcTntuiato the rreniier .if Australia on his loyalty to his party iml to the democracy, and on lus manly ration in reup-iiuiui ft Dlain commoner 4"

SENIOR CADETS. It has boon generally understood, says a Press Association message from Duuedin, that attendance at drill by Cadets enrolled under military Berviee conditions would bo absolutely compulsory. It has been Drought under the notice of the mar.agora of tho Dunediu Technical School thet pupils attending ihat school under tie compulsory clauses of last year's Amending Act are in the position that no excuse nor even attendance, at convpuieory military drill, will be regarded as a legitimate excuse for absence from the continuation classes. It seems that the compulsory education provisions and the compulsory military service provisions are in conflict.. As there are the penalties tor non-attend-ance in each cose, the managers of the Technical School are in communication with the Defence Department pud are also approaehig tie Minister of Education on 'the matter.