LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15492, 23 April 1918, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A motion proposed at last night’s annual meeting of householders to the effect that the £6OOO granted to the Queen’s Park School should be divided, so that half should go towards the proposed Wanganui North was defeated.

A Meeting of the newly-elected Wanganui Schools Committee was held last evening, at which Mr W. Bruce was re-elected chairman. The chairman was also unanimously nominated for the vacant position on the Wanganui Education Board made vacant by the retirement of Mr Sewell. It was resolved to place the noqjtion before other School Committees in Wanganui, with a view to obtaining their support in the direction of Mr Bruce’s election.

During the past few days many soldiers in Wanganui have been observed to be wearing a silver war badge similar to that issued by the Imperial Government. A “Herald” reporter approached the eecretary of the Wanganui Returned Soldiers’ Club for an explanation, and was told that this particular badge was not only issued to returned men, but also to men discharged from camp on home service and men rejected from camp provided they had done six months’ service. In addition to this, a badge may be issued to anyone approved by the camp commandant. Under these circumstances the only badge that can be recognised as showing that a man has seen service beyond the seas is the official badge of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association.

I was amused (says Clubman in the Pall Mall Gazette), while talking to a big tea merchant in the city, to notice the way he spoke of the one and only consignment of China tea that has recently come upon the market. “Choicest” was not good enough. He alluded to the blends as “Superbly choicest,” “Extra superbly choicest,” and so on. When I smiled at these etymological monstrosities he replied: “Oh, don’t think these are my own descriptions. They are taken from the labels on the imported tea chests. When a first chop, tophole blend is indicated they have an even more flowery way of labelling them. They are then ‘Hand-picked by the fairest maidens in the East!’ ” The Kaiser's constant references to the Almighty as his Ally recalls tho story of a British Ambassador and tho Kaiser’s ancestor, Frederick the Great, who, says the Liverpool Post, was at that time pocketing two millions of our money. Sir Andrew Mitchell, our Ambassador, ventured on one occasion to assert in Frederick’s presence that by God’s help Britain would pursue a certain course of action. “On,” said Frederick with a sneer, “I didn’t know that the Almighty had entered iuto alliance with his Britannic Majesty.” Yes," please your Majesty.’’ came the canny Scot’s rejoinder, “and He’s the only ally to whom we don’t have to pay a subsidy.”

The Government has received numerous inquiries as to whether Anzac Day is a statutory half-holiday. The Minister for Internal (the Hon. G. W. Russell) states there is no obligation on any factory, firm, or person to observe the day as a holiday, but in dc-dinring it a public holiday for the Government service throughout the Dominion the Government acted in the hope and in the firm belief that the rest of Ihe people of the Dominion would also observe it as in previous years. Tradespeople closing ou Anzac Day will be entitled to keep their places of business open on the usual weekly halfholiday. The Gonville householders last evening decided to draw the attention of the Education Department, through the Board of Education, to the necessity for altering the regulations, or making them more elastic, so as to prevent schools,in growing districts being handicapped by a shortage of teachers. It was pointed out by Mr F. Wehb-Jones that the Gonville School was rarely, if ever, fully staffed, by reason of the fact that every year there was an increase of 50 or more pupils, and the school was staffed on the average attendance of the previous year. At the present moment the school was staffed for an average of 450, whereas the average to-day was over 500. Mr Jones added that nh doubt there were other schools similarly situated.—Mr C. J. Sharpe mentioned that the matter had engaged the attention of the Committee during the year, and the Board had been approached, but had advised t*hat nothing could be done unless the regulations were altered.

Tne question of the establishment of State clinics and State dental services for school children was briefly discussed at last night’s meeting of the Gonville School Committee. The subject was introduced by Mr Rogers, who urged State assistance in the direction indicated.—Mr Svenson supported the suggestion, and pointed out that the Wanganui Hospital Board had approached the Hon. Mr Russell, Minister for Public Health, on the subject, and he had promised a Government subsidy if a dentist were appointed locally to attend the children’s teeth.—Mrs Comyns riddiculed the idea of the State appointing doctors, at high salaries, to inspect school children, when no provision was made to provide assistance for those children needing attention, whose parents could not afford to pay for it. What was the use, she asked, of parents being told of the defects of their children, when they were not in a position to remedy the defects? While speaking on the subject of tiw Queen’s Park Schosl last evening, ilr Bruce, chairman of the Wanganu.. Schools Committee, was interrupted ny ilr T. B. Slipper, who evidently wisheu so have a say on the question. During the course of his remarks, the chairmau, after referring to the remarks of thu Mayor. said, “And now Mr Slipper wants to have a slap at us.” This immediately brought Mr Mackay, who was presiding it tne meeting, to his feet with the .emark, ‘‘You must withdraw that.' ilr Bruce: “I am going to move— —.’ ilr Mackay: “One moment.” Mr Brueo. T have possession of the floor.” Mr Mackay: “You must obey my ruling, Air Bruce. That was not a ht exprm, sion to use.” Mr Bruce said he woulu withdraw it, but it was the only word A? could get. (Loud laughter.) The .flayor told the speaker that he musi nate an unqualified withdrawal, and Mr Brucye asked those present to give him mother word. A voice: “Say ‘Air has eloquence.’" Mr Bruce; Yes; that s me. That will do. Mr Slipper nov iomes here to air his eloquence.” Continuing, Mr Bruce said that a loca, £ody with two lawyers on it seemed to nake more mistakes than a body of laj.flen. It was a hugs bungle to put too Art Gallery in the wrong place. The ipen spaces should be maintained ictthe children. This was a view wpici ill sensible people would lake

A sign of the times. Four girl tele »raph messengers commenced duty R* the Palmerston Post Office yesterday, it being found impossible to secure the necessary number of boys. The girl nessengcr is already in evidence ir cveral of the large offices, and hav' Keen found to be quite a success.

Although considerably knocked about and bruised, a man who fell four storeys escaped without serious injuries (states a London message in regard to the recent raid). His escape was all the more remarkable, as a piano crashed on top of him. His escape was due to the fact that he had wrapped himself in a carpet. A girl who was in the top storey of the house that was demolished was caught by a projecting wall, and hung suspended in mid-air. She had been hanging there unconscious for two hours when she was rescued by a fireman.

That old controversial subject, the Queen’s Park School site, was opened up at last night's annual meeting of Wanganui central householders. The Mayor, who presided, took the opportunity of explaining the Borough Council’s position, and traversed old and very familiar ground. Luring the course of his remarks someone in the audience called out “Get your head read!”, and this caused his Worship’s wrath to descend on the interjector. Mr Mackay, with great dignity, said to the person in question ; “This is k meeting of people Supposed to be interested in education. Try to show by example that you are ypable of setting an example to those ni whose interests you are supposed to bo here to-night." It had been arranged that Captain Jlizabeth Gunn, N./.M.C., who befor jhe went on active service was connected vith the Education Department, shoul:.' leliver a short address to parents a’ last night’s meeting of householders in Wanganui Central. Dr Gunn was asked to be in attendance at 8.30 p.m., and she was there on time. Controversial subjects the like of which has seldom if ever been before a meeting of householders in W’anganui before cropped up, and for over two hours a lot of talk covering well-beaten ground was indulged in, with the result that it was well after 10 p.m. before Dr Gunn was even thought of. True an apology was offered, but seeing the experience Dr. Gunn has had with school children, it seems a pity that parents were not given an opportunity of hearing something that would have been of benefit to their children.

One liousholder at last night’s meeting the electors in Wanganui central contemned the blucgum plantation as a Vchool site forcibly, and praised Ihe 'lomraittee and Education Board for the ittitude they had taken up. Mr T. P Clipper endeavoured to throw some ligb* >n the subject, but those present would lot hear him. Mr Bruce, chairman of he Committee, said the little space they lad already the Council wanted U rjueeze. As an old headmaster, M' flipper did not have any sense as to tk> jtness of things. After spending about E2OJ, the Art Gallery had been shifted .orward fot the glorification of th>. dorongh Council—the children were ( I condary condition. The Council thought /lore of flower? than of the children',* jealth. If the Council had not beer. #o ashamed they would have heard mote dxrut it. He concluded by saying the (rhole town would vote against curtailing the school playing-ground.