NEWS IN BRIEF

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 15, 23 August 1946, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

Oldest Benefit Society New Zealand’s oldest benefit society, the New Plymouth Friendly Society, held its 105th and last annual meeting recently when it was decided to go into liquidation. For many years it has been the society’s policy not to admit new members, and membership had dwindled to 14, 11 of whom are getting on in years. Accumulated funds are £2921, and as the society is one of the few unregistered organisations of its kind members have the privelege of disposing of their own funds. Formed on December 27, 1841, nine months after the landing of New Plymouth’s first colonists, the society was then and still is, a lodge separate from other benefit societies. It is believed to have been one of the smallest lodges, if not the smallest, in existence. “The Fallacy of Money” “If we found £570,000,000 to fight the war, surely we can find £200,000,000 or £300,000,000 to build New Zealand as it should be built,” said the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, when he addressed delegates to the Workers’ Union Conference in Wellington. This, he said, was his answer to those who wanted to know how the Government’s vast 10-year plan for the development of New Zealand was to be financed. “If the war did nothing else,” Mr Semple added, “it exploded the fallacy of money.” Mr Semple added that the plan had captured the imagination of all sections of the community and had been enthusiastically endorsed by all the local authorities to which sections of it had been submitted. “Under the old regime the yearly expenditure on Public Works never exceeded £10,000,000,” said the Minister. “Under the new setup expenditure will be about £20,000,000, or £30,000,000.” Beautiful Holland

Scenes which depict the beauty of Holland are grouped in an attractively illustrated book published in Amsterdam during the first year of peace. Copies of the book have been presented to Aucklanders by Dutch visitors. A foreword says that in producing the book the Dutch were actuated by thoughts of their Allied friends, who entered Holland as “deliverers and helpers in its hour of dire distress.” The book is rich in illustrations, with a softly flowing sequence of pictures, reflecting in alternate light and dark tints the country’s life, scenery, history and architecture. Ruins are shown, too, including the desolation of Rotterdam. The life of Holland is reflected in quaint costumes and folklore, comfortable farmsteads, mills and castles.

Young People’s Speech “This is a problem that is always with us,” said Mr W. J. Cartwright, national president of the New Zealand Educational Institute and headmaster of the Normal School in Christchurch, when invited to comment on the remarks of Mr H. P. Lowry, S.M., that many young people today seemed to possess only a limited choice of words and were tempted to use “extravagant” terms, sometimes involving indecent languafe. “Children are expert mimics and for that reason too much care cannot be taken in the example set for them,” added Mr Cartwright. Three of the influences which had a bearing on the tendency to careless speech among children were the conversation heard in the home and on the streets, films of poor quality, and a laxity in speech which accompanied war. The last was not a serious or permanent difficulty. Mx Cartwright agreed with the magistrate that young people seized on picturesque expressions. However, the English vocabulary, as taught in the school, gave entire freedom of forceful expression without resorting to questionable words. High Cost of Books

Towards the end of the year books began to arrive from overseas in greater volume, although prices were still so high that the sum voted for purchase did not go nearly as far as. it should, stated the report of the Wellington city librarian, Mr J. Norrie, received by the City Council. Visitors to New Zealand had asked whether the amount of revenue received from the primage duty on books was worth the stigma attached to the only country in the Empire to countenance such a tax. When Britain had sold all her securities to continue the war, continued the report, she still exempted books from the purchase tax which was imposed on all articles except those essential to the life of the people. It was recognised that books were more than merchandise. The primage tax on books and the high prices booksellers charge, acted as a brake on progress and prevented citizens obtaining material that should be available to them.