WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17907, 24 July 1926, Page 8

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING.

Railway Hoardings. The formal pronouncement by the Railways Department of its views regarding the erection of advertising hoardings suggests that the general management is in sympathy with the protests that have been made against the mischievous activities of its advertising branch. That is the impression created by the statement presented to Parliament, but on closer examination that favourable conclusion has to be abandoned. The declaration that the department dees not countenance the erection of hoardings “ to the detriment of scenic beauty spots ” is obviously ridiculous. The department’s servants have in many cases disfigured beauty spots by the erection of hoardings, and have answered all protests with the claim that the railways must be allowed to make money without considering others’ feelings. In at least once instance, the Boston Road re serve, the department’s servants have replied to the City Council’s protests at its first offence by erecting a larger, more conspicuous, and more objectionable hoarding to form a background for this beauty spot. What then is the value of the department s undertaking that representations by a local authority “will have very careful consideration? ”—“ New Zealand Herald.” School Holidays. All parents are interested in the question of school holidays, and the present referendum being taken by the Auckland Board of Education on the matter will probably reveal, when ail the returns are available, a preference in favour of making the holidays in our primary schools coincide with those in the secondary schools. In a large number of families there are children attending both classes of school. Those attending the secondary schools have three weeks more holiday than those attending the primary. This causes many difficulties. There does not seem to be any valid reason why children •receiving secondary education should be entitled to a longer holiday than those receiving primary education. In .ill probability the holidays in the

primary schools would have been the a:r.e as in the secondary, had it not 1 eon for the fact that under the Government regulations all primarv schools must be kept open for at least 400 half-days each year. The secondary school holidays would make the enforcement of this regulation impossible, were they to be made applicable to secondary schools, because they would make a deficit of one week in the statutory time. This difficulty, however, could easily be overcome if the three weeks’ holiday in August at present obtaining in secondary schools were to be made a holiday of two weeks. The extra week at Christmas might well be granted to primary scholars as well as the extra week in May.—“ Auckland Star.” Military Training. It is well that the Council of Christian Congregations has given attention to the question of military training. No one can object that the matter is outside its province. Least of all can the Defence authorities complain; indeed, they are known to welcome public interest in their work, and especially the practical co-operation of the chaplains to the forces. Colonel Potter himself, whose personal opinion favouring a longer period of consolidated training ha.s evoked criticism in the council, has evinced an eagerness for that co-operation. Nothing is more desirable than a wholesome care on the part of the churches that this aspect of the Dominion's life should be above reproach. But the leading speakers in the council’s discussion were reproachful beyond reason. The strength of their case was' weakened by overstatement. There is scarcely any foundation at all for the Rev D. C. Herron’s vehement declaration that there is “propaganda designed to bring about an increase in the military forces of New Zealand, to lengthen the period of service, and, what is worst of all, to take youths of eighteen into camp for three months.” In framing its resolutions on the matter, the council’s executive will do well to sift the facts. They will not be found in harmony with the wholesale indictment made in the general discussion.— “Herald,” Auckland.