The Week in Review.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 21, 21 May 1913, Page 1

The Week in Review.

To Teach. Inexperienced. Teachers. THROUGHOUT the Dominion there is a scarcity of efficient teachers to fill the increasing number of positions created by the advance in population, and certain of the schools in new districts, with, the result that recourse has to be had to the employ* juent of inexperienced teachers. To remedy this unfortunate state of affairs it has been suggested that, “observation Schools” should be established so as to provide an opportunity for inexperienced teachers to get the benefit of some practical hints. The suggestion has been brought under the notice of tire Department, but so far no action has been taken in lhe matter. At. the recent Inspectors’ C onference in Wellington a resolution. was carried urging the Department to specifv certain of the schools in Grade 111. as “observation schools,” with suitable addition to the teachers’ salary rthe extra work involved. Referring this matter at the last meeting of the Auckland Education Board, Mr. J. K. JVlulgon stated that the inspectors had, at bis request, prepared lists of schools in. the various subdivisions of Auckland district most suitable for the purpose. of schools,* due regard being to efficiency, locality and accessibility, and these he recommended that |he more promising of the inexperienced teachers from time to time be allowed to attend. "If this recommendation be approved,” he said, ‘ the inspectors wilt be instructed to confer, during their visits, with those teachers who give promise of improvement, ascertain if they be willing to attend at their own expense suitable, fiohools, and notify the chief inspector of the result. The teachers themselves will then make application to the Board for the necessary permission and name the school to which they wish to be attached. Jt will, of course, be necessary in each case to close the school in question for a few weeks, but this action, I am strongly of opinion, would be sound policy, in view of the increased efficiency certain io follow from the observation of good models ai,d from the experience, and knowledge gained during the period,. of attendance at the schools concerned.” The Board decided to adopt the recommendation. © © ® More Support Wanted. Frequent complaint has been made by Jilr. George George concerning the parsiTnonious treatment received by the Auckland Technical Sehool at the hands of the controlling authority. He is still dissatisfied and discouraged, and threatens to- resign his position as director at. the end °f year. At present the new building in Wellesley Street is incomplete, with no funds available to make additions, nor even to properly lay out the grounds estimated to eost £1,500. Speaking at the Education Board meeting last week Mr. George remarked that blatters had improved very little since be took over the position eleven years hgo. “Now that we have got into the new sclmol,” he said, "1 seem to feel the position more than ever. We have only got half a building, and next year the pupils coining forward will necessitate our going back to the old buildings in Street for the accommodation of day scholars.” It seemed to him remarkable that the Technical School should ba to hampered while the Grammar ficliool could get a £40,000 for a new buildin* “As far as the public utility of our work is concerned,” he said, “I am sura burs in as valuable to the community

as any that is done in New Zealand.” Mr. George added he was not blaming the Board, as the members had always been anxious, to do all that they could. There was no play-ground to the sehool at present, and to remedy this deficiency he wanted the site laid out. Regret was expressed by the Board that it had no funds available tor the purpose, and tha matter was held over meanliate. © © © Science Examinations, In order to give facilities to school teachers for qua-lifyipg in ecienee subjects, Mr J. K. Mill gun has submitted recommendations io the Auckland Education Board to arrange for courses of practical instruction in elementary agriculture, elementary botany, and elementary hygiene. The recommendations are (il> That tearhere be notified of the proposal to hold classes in practical work in 4he subjects earned, and those who wish to take advantage of these classes be asked to inform the board of their intention. (2) That, provided a sufficient number of candidates he forthcoming, coupiias ex leading over about three weeks be provided. (3) That the teachers concerned be required to attend these Haases at their own expense, and to relinquish their Michaelmas holidays in lieu of some of the -time spent -away from their schools. (4) That in cases where it U impossible to make satisfactory provision for carrying on the work by 'means of a relieving staff, the- schools be closed during the duration of the classes. JI is proposed to give the instruction about the middle of August, and the classes would run, concurrently and extend over three weeks. © © © Aviation in New Zealand. A New Zealand branch of the Imperial Air League is to be establwhed. A provisional committee was set up at a meeting of civilians and military men held in Wellington last week. Various suggestiaiS have been made in order to ensure a career of usefulness for the local branch. Amongst other- matters is a proposal that funds raised should be used to found a scholarship entitling lhe holder to a course of study in aeronautics with practical training in flying at some recognised school. Another suggestion la that the New Zealand League should work on lines similar to the Navy League, Seeking to stimulate publie interest in aviation, and to augment the Imperial Aviation Fund by a contribution from the Dominion. The majority of those interested are agreed, however, that the efforts of the league should be concentrated upon the development of practical aviation in New Zealand, such «s the construction of machines, the providing of aerodromes and training grounds, instruction of pilots, and, in short, to assist in the creation of an air league of aviators. © © © Danger of Over-indulgence. * Some people who are labouring in the interests of prisoners are of opinion that the present system of reform is inadequate. A deputation representing the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society outfined some points in waiting on the Minister of Justice last week. Mr. Duncan Macpherson, with twenty-eight years’ experience as a chaplain at Mount Eden, declared emphatically that the work of reformation in the prisons- was on the wrong lines. His idea was that the prisons shonld bo

called criminal hospitals, and the object should be to make bad men into good men. That they did not achieve this aim was shown by the fact that men returned to gaol twenty and thirty times. Mr. Macpherson urged that greater facilities should be given for the education and instruction of prisoners, suggesting that the chapel should be open every evening. that permission should lie given for lectures to the prisoners, and for memliers of women’s Bible classes to visit the prison, and that greater opportunities should be given to the chaplains to converse with the men. “There is a danger of. being over-indul-gent with prisoners," the Minister remarked in commenting on these suggestions. "I am quite convinced that if you are too indulgent with these gentlemen they only take advantage of you.” Mr. Herdman said the department did not desire a condition in the prisons which iwould lead to a repetition of the absurd incident that occurred in the Lyttelton Gaol, when the prisoners "struck” and refused to work. If a “cotton-wool'' policy was adopted, similar Gilbertiau episodes might be expected. The men must be treated with justice. hut discipline must be strict. © © © A Startling Disclosure. Cargo broaching is of necessity a difficult crime to detect. There are so many opport unities for pilfering t > be committed and all traces effectively covered up that it is next to impossible to decide upon whom to turn suspicion. It is a matter of working more or less in the dark to discover the miscreants. If added to the ordinary complexities there is collusion and terrorism, the situation is even mare acute. Yet disclosures made in the Police Court at Auckland last week indicate, if the statements can be relied upon, that senmen are terrorised in a most aggressive fashion by wharf workers, making Hie crime of pilfering easy of perpetration and Impossible of detection. In a statement to the Court a seaman, charged with having stolen goods, said it was high time the company sent officers to take charge of the holds instead of seamen. Wharf workers in the hold, lie said, simply laughed at the seamen. If a man went up to tell an officer about a matter, of pillaging, the men in the hold would just fix up the case again and deny everything. He had told watersiders not to do anything wrong,. because he would be responsible, and they had just turned round and laughed at him. There were 1500 men on the wharf in Auckland, and if he got any of them fined, or into trouble by reporting them, he would have* to clear out of Auckland and keep out.

The Coining Session and the Party Prospects. In the course of an interview the other day the Hon. W. F. Massey stated that he has been very busy during the past week preparing legislation for the approaching session. Already quite a number of bills are completed or in forward state, including an amendment of the 'Land Act to give effect to that part of the Government's policy on this question which could not be dealt with last session owing to the necessity of proceeding with other wof'k, and the fact that it would have made the Hand Bill so bulky that il might have imperilled tire passing of any legislation at all on the subject. As has been announced, it is intended to refer the allegations as to reaggregation of land in some dist ricts to the Lands ‘Committee of the House for inquiry. If these investigations prove that legislation is required to prevent aggregation, the Government will take the necessary steps to stop the evil. The Government is quite determined that there shall be no aggregation. The Prime Minister stated that he is pushing on land settlement vigorously in various parts of the country, and, in addition to two estates acquired during Hie past week, there are some five or six others which will shortly, it is expected, be available for cutting up for closer settlement. tAs Ministers have still a good deal of work to do in con nection with their departments which makes a personal visit to different dis triets absolutely imperative, it is difficult to arrange for a full meeting of the Cabinet for same time yet. This being so, it is not likely thyit the appointments to the Legislative Council will be made before the meeting of Parliament—in deed, it is probable that the announce ment as to those who are called to the Council will be made in the Governor’s Speech at the opening of Parliament. 'During the past week or two many members of the Government party have been in communication with their leader, and from these and other sources il is gathered by Mr. Massey that Hie party’s ■prospects are so encouraging as to cause them to feel that in the event of an immediate test of the feeling of the country the Government would be re turned by a very substantial majority of about twenty. © © © Woman's Sphere. {Some very sensible remarks on women's work and influence were made 1»y Miss Richmond at the annual meet ing of the Richmond Free Kindergarten Union, held in Wellington. She declared that the kindergarten schools supplied needs that no other institution touched; the need of the mothers for help, the need of the -children for nurture. the need of the girls for training

In motherly ways. They helped in a wonderful fashion to unite all classes of women. 'l'hey were, to her mind, the only practical remedy for the serious defects in girls* education, which to-day made sol>er-thiiiking people feel anxious. They were allowing a wrong standard for women to be set up in educational places. The greatest honour a young and ambitious woman could imagine and aspire to was to follow the career of a man, and in this her womanhood was at a discount; it was a clog to her, a drawback. Disagreeing with the view that men’s work was grander and better than women have ever found to do along feminine lines, Miss Richmond urged: “Don’t - let us east aside the fact of our sex, as if it were an indignity; rather let us regard it as a splendid opportunity. Let us remember there is a kind of strength which is made perfect in weakness. Why is this monstrous regiment of women moving along these unwomanly lines to the dismay of many of us, both men and women? They are brave and unscrupulous enthusiasts, and as they go they make willing sacrifices of themselves, and unwilling victims of other people. Why do they demand a just and reasonable thing in such an unjust and unreasonable way? To my mind there is a plain answer to this plain question. Because modern education has induced in the feminine mind a man’s standard. He has taught her about the struggle for life, and the survival of the fitlest, and -he has begun to struggle, determined, at all costs, to become fit from her own points of view.’ Women should bo trained up primarily to deal with individuals. Women as a sex should turn their minds to those subjects in which they are fitted by Nature to excel men. such as health, education, Charitable aid, the problem of poverty, the need of individual thought and competency. and the adequate control of environment. $ & *3 Wliicli Port ? A suggestion ha< been made by Mr. Ti. Newman. M.P., for Rangitikei. that if there is to be only one port of call for the Vancouver service in X”W Zealand, it should be Wellington and not Auckland.. In support of the contention, he claims that Wellington i* a<- well situated for export of butter and cheese, and bettor situai.e<T for all claiss.es of frozen meat than Auckland. He slates that live stock is being <-ent to Auckland and there shipped, and frozen meat is shipped from Wellington to \ ancouver, via T'risco, both these methods being unsatisfactory ami expensive, and indicating the nece6sit\’ of making Wellington a port of call for the Vancouver steamers. As a further indication of the importance of the meat export trade to Mr. Newman mentioned that, early last week, over thirty trucks containing some 240 fat bullocks, were dispatched from Manawatu to Auckland, to be exported to \ ancouver. It may be pointed out that under the agreement between the Canadian < Government and the I nion Steamship Company, Auckland is specified a« the port of call in New Zealand, and the suggested transference to Wellington would involve an alteration in the contract. In addition It is argued that there is no good reason for a change. The president of the 'Auckland Chamber of Commerce confudens that the whole of the Dominion would suffer a disadvantage if the suggested change was made. Auckland is not only the natural port of call as being a day nearer, the northern terminal port, but in rot of the cargo shipped to Vancouver produced in the province. It would ]»<• impossible to cater specially Jor each part of the Dominion. A merchant iiitervbted in the export trade points out that Wellington has g<»t the ’i’risco service and practically all the Home steamers to a serious detriment of the Auckland province, and an inconvenience and expense in transhipping would be avoided if Home steamers x irdted Auckland when adequate, cargo was offering. But in connection with the Vancouver service, butter comprised the bulk of the cargo, and a great deal*more butler was available wltljin easy reach of Auckland than within easy distance of Wellington. Jim 250 head of Manawatu bullocka was an isolated ease. A great deal of beef wan wanted at abort notice, and as it could not be collected within limited time in Auckland, shipper* had to go to Wellington district to make up the requirement*.

Citizen Field Army. In speaking on defence matters to an interviewer last week, Major-General Godley said the system of land defence indicated by the Hon. J. Allen no doubt means primarily a citizen field army, which is now 23,000 strong, and by 4916 will be 30,000 strong, the full strength allowed by Parliament. “1 anticipate by 1916 that this army will be extremely well trained. The work done in camp this year, the second year Of training, has shown great promise. Three more years added to that work will make an enormous difference in the efficiency, which is increasing at a very satisfactory rate.” Speaking of eoast defences, the Commandant observed: ‘‘Our forts are well equipped with both guns ami men. The staffing of the Permanent Artillery was increased lately from 265 to 315. The forts generally in Auckland and Wellington are in excellent order and well manned, the numbers available for manning the fort.- being adequate and satisfactory.'’ © © © Auckland City Finances. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Parr), in a speech at the first meeting of the nevdy-eleeted City Council, said the fin-

ances were sound and buoyant. The city’s debt was £1,550,009; of this sum ’£900,000 was invested in reproductive services, the revenue on which alone was sufficient to pay interest on the whole debt. The city’s sinking fund amounted to £183.000, and was increasing at the rate of £15,000 to £20,000 a. year. There was also in reserve. £20,000, accumulated tramways profits. After paying all debts the city had considerably over a million pounds to the good. Hates collected in 1893 totalled £29,905; in 1903, £48,584; in 1913, £96,474. The total revenues from all sources this year will reach nearly a quarter of a million. © © © A Timber Supply. The mueh-desjriseri pinns insigiiis, the same which is always being exclaimed against by road engiueera arid aggrieved neighbours for shutting out sunlight, had some whole-hearted admirers among the members of the Forestry Commission. Amongst a few interesting exhibits which the Commission carries al>out is a wide board cut from a pinus insignia log, and it has surprised more than one witness. Grown under forest conditions, the tree shoots up a long, branchless barrel, io that when the timber is cut it

is perfectly straight in the grain, and free from knots. It is fairly strong, charged with resin, and therefore distasteful to the dreaded borer, and it will stand any amount of nailing. It is already used for building in parts of Canterbury, and experts have said that it might easily be used for butter-box timber if it were seasoned and paraffined to. protect the butter from possible taint from the resin in the wood. © © © Sly-grog Selling. According to Police-Inspector Hendrey the practice of sly-grog selling is growing in Wellington. The inspector made the statement in the Magistrate’s Court hist Friday during the hearing of a case against a young man who had illegally sold liquor. The inspector’s statement was as follows: “This is a growing offence. We have a large amount of drunkenness about the streets on Sundays, and certain people are making huge profits out of the illegally sold liquor.’’ © © © Maoris and Medical Service. Recent episodes, combined with the prevalent unsatisfactory conditions gen-

erally, emphasise the urgent need for more effective medical service amongst the Maoris, not only for the protection of the race, but in the interests of the health of the community. It is encouraging to find, therefore, that the Minister for Public Health is actively occupied with the reorganisation of this important work. Matters are somewhat complicated by previous arrangements, but Mr Rhodes hopes to straighten out things so that the money available for medical and nursing attendance on the Maoris will be more equitably distributed. He also regards it as necessary that this branch of the medical service should be correlated with that of the Hospital Boards, so that the latter might be better acquainted and act in co-operation. To put the matter on a substantial basis lias necessitated reference to old-time treaties and acts from the Treaty of Waitangi onwards, and it is hoped that as a result of the investigations now being made by the Department many matters affecting the medical and nursing assistance to the Maoris which have been such vexed questions to many Hospital Boards would be cleared up. In the meantime twenty-four medieal officers have l>een asked to continue attending the Maoris as heretofore, pending a

definite agreement with the Department as to their actual responsibilities, and negotiations are in progress with others. The nurses appointed for . the special work among the Maoris were, the Minister said, doing splended service. Mr Rhodes anticipates a great extension of this work, which will naturally involve a larger expenditure than in the past, and he has every reason io believe that those responsible for the administration of these Native Trusts will be ready to give the substantial assistance necessary to make this an efficient branch of the medical service of the Department of Public Health, © © a Observation Cars. An experiment in the matter of an observation ear in connection with the tram service has been a success in Wellington. A recent report submitted showed that from March 25th to April 24th the revenue from this car totalled £ 104 2/, and the ear miles run 15,050. The running expenses (including fixed charges) worked out at £94 1/11, leaving a balance of £8 2/1. The charge for travelling on thre car is to be increased to 2/ per passenger, children paying 6d as at present. In San Francisco, it is pointed out, the charge is 3/1J for a. trip occupying three and a-half hours. The proposed charge is regarded as very, reasonable. It is intended to convert one of the palace cars into an observation ear and use it for ordinary traffic when required. © © © Old Medical Act. A deputation representative of the Wellington branch of the British Medical Association addressed the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. H. D. Bell, last week on the subject of the amendments to the existing forty years old Medical Act which the association have been so long asking for. They have had a Bill before the Government for some years, but it has never been considered by either House. What the association desire is more effective registration of qualified practitioners, with some provision for preventing qualified men who have been guilty of gross, misconduct from practising. They also-ask for the setting up of a Medical .Board. The Minister, in reply to the deputation, promised to have a Bill prepared embodying us far as possible the proposals of the association. © © © Wireless Tests. some interesting daylight tests are being carried out between, the highpower wireless station at Pennant Hills and the high-power station at Awanui, New Zealand, covering a distance over land and sea equal to about 1,400 nautical miles. These tests are being conducted by an experienced staff of engineers and operators at the stations between the hours of 11 a.m- and 1 p.m. Each message lias been distinctly heard, taken down word for word, and replied to without the slightest hitch, and owing to the continuity of the. messages, the Australasian Wireless Company and the operating staff at each end are naturally pleased with the results. The tests demonstrate that " daylight ’ communication can be made between Sydney, and New Zealand at any time during both day and night. Several long-dis-tance records have lately been recorded, reaching from 1800 to 4800 miles, but all referred to night signals. Ihe circumstances, however, are very different, as the conditions for transmitting and receiving by wireless telegraphy are much more favourable at night than in the day time, the reason being the extraordinary power exercised by the daylight on thef electrical waves. It is very noticeable that directly the sun sets the signals become much stronger, and increase in power towards midnight. An additional proof that the sun also has a directi influence on the. radiation of the electrical waves has been furnished in the case of an eclipse of the sun. During an eclipst} the strength of the waves increases In a most marked degree. The atmospheric effect on electrical waves passing between the Addie Land wireless station and th<? stations erected in the Commonwealth and New Zealand on the “dark days'l of the Antarctic is still to be and should be watched with interest