Sayings of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 12 January 1910, Page 3

Sayings of the Week.

Balfour on German Audacity. THE depreciation of British virility has gone so far that non official Germans, men of position and character, engaged in great affairs, have actually the audacity to say: “Do you supose we should ever allow Britatin to adopt Tariff Reform!” It is undesirable to press irresponsible conversations too far, but such audacity as to say that Britain shall not settle its taxation according to its own ideas makes my blood boil. — Mr. A. Balfour, in % Tecent speech. * < * * Quite Secure. We are more secure, as far as the defence of our shores is concerned, than at any time in the memory of living man. — 'Mr. Asquith. • * « * The “ Examination ” Craze. Examinations have crept into everything connected with school life to such an extent that to many minds the word “examination” has become synonymous .with “education.” — Mr. G.W. C. McDonald, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute. • « * « A Second Dreyfus Case. I do not realise that a British community will allow a second Dreyfus case to be enacted in their midst. — Captain F. ‘B. Knyvett. * * • * Kitchener in Sydney. Complete security is only obtainable by efficient fixed defences, supported by a mobile and efficient land force.— Lord Kitchener at Sydney. . . •*■ * * Prospects for the Lords. Whatever the people think about the Budget or the House of Lords, they Will not, I am sure, allow any Government a free hand to turn us over to the untempered mercy of a chance 'majority in the Commons, and of the Ministers'happening to control that majority.— The- Marquis of Lansdowne (Deader of the Union!’' party in the House of Lords). • • ' Onr Naval Obligations. It is quite true that there is competition in naval shipbuilding, but it is untrue that we have fallen behind, Ido not like this increase in -the naval expenditure. It must be a burden on,the resources of any country, but the navy is essential to our safety, and we cannot afford to let other countries get up to us. — Sir E. Grey [(Foreign Secretary)- « « • « Highest, Purest, and ■ Best. If we wish the children to have more iron in the blood of their principles, we must present before them the highest, purest, and best moral examples in this new country. Far removed from the larger centres of population, and untrammelled by the traditions and absurd class distinctions of older lands, we have a splendid opportunity to work out our own destiny on lines that should make for the national uplifting and national greatness. ■ —Mr. G. W. C. McDonald, President of the New Zealand Educational Institute. » * » * Misunderstood. Professor Biekerton is a man who is misunderstood, and often misrepresented, but he is a second Sir Isaac Newton, and has discovered the law of impact. Some day the people will erect a monument to his memory.— Mr. Clement Wrap pc, th® Well-known meteorologist. ■ • • • The Work of the Navy. It Is on the navy that you must rely in the first instance to frustrate the designs of the enemy on isolated portions of territory, and to keep open communication with other parts of the world.— Lord Kitchener at Sydney. ’» » ' • • A* Educational Fetiah. There is a growing feeling in connection with the Now Zealand University that it should find new channels for its activities. The Latin and Greek fetish still stands as a hindrance to systematic higher education.— Dr. A. K. Newman, Mayor of Wellington.

The First Consideration. The first consideration always in our work is the pupil.— Mr. G. IV. C. McDonald, president of the New Zealand, Educational Institute. • • • • Francisco Ferrer. When I maintained against Ferrer my theory, justifying the winnig of political rights by violence, Ferrer used to reply to me with the utmost calmness, “Time only respects those institutions which time itself has played its part in building up. That the violence wins for us to-day another act of violence may wrest from us to-morrow. Those stages of progress are alone endurable which have rooted themselves in the mind and conscience of mankind before receiving the final sanction of legislation. The only means of realising what is good is to teach it by education and propagate it by example."—Alfred Nayuet, formerly French Senator and an intimate friend of Francisco Ferrer.

Only Themselves to Blame, I -am in .favour of adult suffrage. If the reform is not embodied in the Liberal programme for this election the ladies themselves will be to blame.— Mr. John Burns. * • » * A Criticism of the University. The University of New Zealand is purely an examining body, with its soul resident in Europe.— Mr. G. IV. C. McDonald, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute. • * * * A Sort of Mecca. Wellington is a sort of Mecca, or holy land, to which all sorts of institutions, sinners and saints flock.—Dr. Newman, Mayor of Wellington, at the opening of the Educational Conferece. • • » • Be Sure of Victory. I do not believe there is going to be any war between Britain and any great Power; but the only way you can secure peace is to be sure of victory if war occurs.— Mr. Balfour. • • • • “ Bullying Inspectors.” It is very necessary to have something clear to place before inspectors, for I know of instances where country teachers have been bullied by the inspector for doing the very things which in a city school have been approved.— Mr. McKenzie (Auckland), at the Educational Conference in Wellington.

The Imperial Destiny. We must work out our Imperial salvation by wisdom, moderation, and mutual understanding and comprehension between the various equal and self-govern-ing democracies of the Empire. The welding into closer unity of so curiously formed a body will require the labours of successive generations of statesmen. Let us take one step at a time as it commends itself to our common-sense and that of our fellow-citizens across thA seas.— Mr. Balfour. • • • • The Old Home Life. Some parents, teachers know, are utterly unfitted to train their children. The old home life, with all its hallowed associations. arc fast becoming a thing of the past.—Mr. G. IV. McDonald, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute. No Training Required. Society requires certain guarantees of training from its chemists, doctors, lawyers, plumbers, cab-drivers, motormen, etc.; indeed, from almost every class of skilled workmen except teachers. Anyone can start a private school, no training is required for a teacher in our secondary schools, and the large body of uncertificated teachers in our primary schools speaks for itself. — Professor T. A. Bunter, Victoria College.

The Force of Discipline. What is the main disciplinary force in our schools to-day! 1 unhesiatingly reply, ‘“Fear.” As the whole history of civilisation teaches us, we must replace brute force by skill, which means educationally, fear by knowledge of the child. —Professor T. A. Bunter, Victoria College. • • • « Unassailable Superiority. The Government has recognised to the full the increasing risks to which Britain’s naval supremacy is exposed and does not hesitate to call for large sacrifices for a substantial addition to the naval expenditure, which is one of the principal causes of the Budget. This additional sum is being better and more

fruitfully expended than if it had been spent earlier. The position as regardn the navy, now and for the future years, for which we, as an Administration, are responsible, is one of unassailable superiority.—Mr. Asquith. Prime Minister. • • • • We Tariff Rerfonners. We tariff reformers stood for the whole policy of taxation of foreign imports and food duties, as proposed by Mr. Chant beriain.— Lord Milner. The Balance of Power. Even if the Tories, as they anticipatea, gain 100 seats in the new Parliment, the balance of power will be in the hands of the Irish Nationalists. — Mr. Winston Churchill, President of the Board of Trade.