ESPERANTO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1939, Page 4

ESPERANTO

MASTERTON CLUB MEETING. At the weekly meeting of the Masterton Esperanto Club, held last evening in the clubroom, Municipal Buildings, Mr A. Dewar, D.8.E.A., presided over an excellent attendance of members. The secretary, Mr W. H. King, presented correspondence in Esperanto received during the week comprising letters from Czechoslovakia and Italy and a communication from the New Zealand Esperanto Association relating to the question of introducing Esperanto into New Zealand schools. It was reported that advice had recently been received from the Director of Education to the effect that at the present time there is nothing to prevent principals of secondary schools in New Zealand from introducing Esperanto into their curricula, as the Education Department prescribes certain compulsory subjects, which must be taught for about eleven hours weekly and for the remainderypf the week each school is at liberty to teach whatever subjects it considers desirable; and if there is a demand for Esperanto from parents or pupils, there would be no difficulty in meeting it so far as the departmental regulations or instructions are concerned.

A brief talk was given by Mr King, on the subject “The Esperanto Movement in Austria and Czechoslovakia.” This was followed by the usual conversational practice, which disclosed that members are rapidly acquiring a sound working knowledge of the international language. The final item was rendered by Mrs E. J. Esler. who contributed a reading in Esperanto entitled “Elefanto transiras Sidnejan Ponton” (An Elephant Crosses Sydney Bridge), which was subsequently translated and analysed on the blackboard.

The meeting concluded with the singing of “Nun Venas la Hor” (Now is the Hour).