A COMMENDABLE FORWARD MOVEMENT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18231, 15 November 1924, Page 14

A COMMENDABLE FORWARD MOVEMENT.

(SPKCIAI. TO "THE PBESS.")

(By M.C.)

On page 6 ofjbis year's Education Ecport 'win bo found reference to the operation of the newly-established correspondence classes instituted by tho Department; and those who welcomed this departure will rejoice to know that it has come to stay. The official verdict is that "the progress made by children who have belonged to this class for about 'two years is-remark-able. The children, take the keenest interest in their work and numerous letters of appreciation and thanks havo bi-on received from tho. parents. It is not too much to say that though this venturo touches only some 450 children it deals effectively with a dimculty of tho greatest national importance. It means an association . . . with the outside world that cannot fail to havo a beneficial influenco on tho children. . , , " Tho writer is aware that a corollary of this plan—the exchange of poetcards between Now Zealand:.children and the pupils of tho English schools, has been attended by tho happiest results. An. instance of this was brought under his notice only a day or two ago. :Tho pupils of one of tho.Bchoblp in North Canterbury havo got in touch with Jewish families in Palestino through tho father having served undor General Sir, E. Chaytor, whero our troops helped to rescuo tho Holy Land from Turkish domination. I have had handed to.me two letters that'l feci sure will be read with interest: —■

Colony Kishon-lo Zioii, December 18th, 1923

"Pear Dolly.—l have received your letter, October 16th, we enjoyed very much. I am very glad to be in communication with a girl whose father was surely to be one of the soldiers of the mighty Anzac troops who delivered Palestine from the yoke of the Turks. Well, deaf Dolly, I should hereby tryto give you some informations with regard' to mo' privately, arid as to the life in Palestine.

"I am a fellow of 17 years of age. I- occupy myself on our farm, which is large enough to occupy me and my family. I have got a good knowledgb of the agriculturing here. My father is the resident of the Jewish colonies of Palestine, which are over 40 in number. I myself-live in'one of the nicest colonies named Eishon-le-Zion, which is surely known to your father, as he was in Palestine. I am sure ho enjoyed himself jolly good here in our colony, for we used always to assist the conquerors of our land. I am sure that your father had not once tasted the wines of our Biahon cellars, which are well famous all over the world. I hope to send you in my next letter Borne pictures viewing our colony. "As you know 'that. I occupy myself in farming,-which-I lam very -much interested in, I should, like to have some more' particulars about your farmers' ' lifo there, and' as you are quite always busy in Bchool I should like to ask _bf one of your brothers or si'Bters to write to me in more particular -with'.regard to. everything which concerns farming and life in.general; although don't prevent your hands from writing to rue whenever you find'time. "I should like, to ask you, if it is n.ot a very hard job for you, to a end me some of the pictures of your farm and family (including yourself). You may ask your teacher about my family and father, for he knows my father as the president of the Jewish colony here who sent him (your teacher) s,ome flowers as remembrance of Palestine. My family consists of eight brothers and four sisters. We are eight good soldiers (is it not nine?) Pour of my brothers and three .of my sisters are married."' One of my brothers us at present in London-studying in the University for political economy. I have 'my fifth brother employed by the Government of Palestine in the Department of Immigration and Travel. He Was at .home to-day for a short trip, and he asked me to write to'y oll to ask one of your senior brothers or sisters to write to him at Jaffa. '

"It is quite winter now in Palestine. There has been a lot of rain, but there is no snow, except sometimes "in] the Holy city of Jerusalem. In the. same opportunity I should like to send you all my best wishes for a happy Xmas and a merry New Tear. I remain for the present, in hope to be favoured often with your lovely, lettters. "From your friend "MEEEOVITCH."

Accompanying the letter is a brochure in whichi are detailed the virtues of the products of the co-operative vignerons of Eishon-le-Zion and Ticron-Jacob adjoining. Their brands of Carmel Oriental, Vin Cognac, and Arac gained .first prizes at the exhibition of Tel Avib this year,, and they also won gold medals at the Paris Exhibition of 1900, . the Vienna Hygienic Exposition of 1906, and the Turin Exhibition of 1911. Evidently the wine industry, in which the ' Meeroviteh family are largely interested pecuniarily, is a successfully conducted . enterprise. .. , ' From the head of the same family, but ; despatched nearly a year later:—

"Dear Miss Hurley,—On account of the far distanced place, I hope that this letter will reach you about November 15th next —the day which we colonists of Eishon-le-Zion will never forget—a day on which the heroes of New Zealand freed our colony from Turkish dominion. "I enclose herewith an article composed by me some years ago, and I would be grateful if the same would be read by you' every year on November 15th. You will also find some flowers—'lmmortelles' of the Holy Land—as well as a collection of Palestinian postage stamps, if they are of any interest to you, as a remembrance from the Holy Land. Why did you cease to correspond with the youth of our colony? ,My sons are now on leave at Eishon-le-Zion, and I write this, on their behalf. Please pass my best greetings to your parents, and to all who are interested with the happenings in Palestine;,and in order to renew the connexion between your and our descendants,. I attach the names of some of onr young people [here follows a list of six families] who reside at Eishon-le-Zion. "Sincerely yours, "M. MEEEOVITCH."