Whakatane Parent-Teacher Association

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 100, 17 June 1949, Page 5

Whakatane ParentTeacher Association

Those present at the meeting of the Whakatane Parent-Teacher Association on Monday evening heard a very interesting talk on Japan by Rev. J. C. Wilson. During his stay in the country Mr Wilson travelled fairly extensively, and was able to give his audience a graphic account of -his experiences. ' One of his deepest impressions ■was the great natural beauty of the country, and another the extraordinary docility and extreme courtesy of the people, strangely at variance with the cruelty of Japanese troops during the war. The latter was usually attributed to the regimentation and control to which they were accustomed in pre-war days, so that when they found themselves temporarily in authority a very marked reaction set in. Mr Wilson said that the members of the Occupation Force found considerable difficulty in getting to know the people, partly on account of the language difficulty, and partly because of the attitude of suspicion with which the troops naturally regarded the Japanese. Nevertheless he had attained some insight into their customs and home life, and touched upon their tea ceremony, food, art, furniture, architecture, engineering and transport. At the conclusion of his address a hearty vote of thanks proposed by Mr E. H. Morice was carried by acclamation. Earlier in, the evening two songs by Mr Denham were also greatly appreciated. Owing to lack of support the executive of the Association has decided to discontinue the card evenings which have been held at the school.