INDUSTRIES WEEK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 4

INDUSTRIES WEEK.

FIRMS MAKE READY, RESPONSE.

HOW TO INTEREST CHILDREN.

Several details with respect to' . Industries Week were disoussod at the special meeting of the general committee of the Industrial Association Mast night. There were present: Mr. E. Bull (in the chair), and Messrs. T. Ballinger, R. Tomlino, L. R. Partridge, W. H. Bennott, S."S. Williams, D. Robertson, ,A.i Brown,' J. Smith, Hodgson, "W; M'Lay, Hardie Shaw, and Norton. Leave of absence was granted Mr. A. W. Newton, president, and Mr.-Brice, of the .Wellington Woollen, Mills, Company. ... .'■

The secretary. (Mr. H. ¥. Allen) stated that it had already been decided that Industries Week should be! held from May 12 to 19. He had re-circularised manufacturers on < tho subject, and he was glacj to say there had been a satisfactory;..response■ on this .occasion. . The Christchurch Association intended to hold Industries • Week from April 27 to May 4. .-Members would be pleased to learn that tho Wellington Headmasters' Association had intimated that"th'oy would further the efforts of. the association.'by specially directing the attention of scholars to the-..various industries in' the Dominion. The City Council had written stating tint it would offer no objection to tho placing of streamers on : locally built tramcars'during the week in question, and would permit visitors to ■ inspect :;the ;tfamways~shed' and" electrical, light;.and,.power/works.,. The. tech-. iiical school authorities intended to' arrange a display of students' iworkV which would .be well worthy of inspection: A large number of firms had intimated: that they would make suitable displays during tho week. Oa behalf of a deputation irom tho Headmasters' .Association, Mr. M'Morran stated that at the last meeting of the' association 'strong-,sympathy,-with; the'■■suggestion that masters' should , co-bperato'; with the' "commit-, tee was.expressed. It wasconsidered that the holding of industries' week'Mv'ds a vital , aujiter, notonly ,fdr : \ manufacturers'" and tradespeople, but also for!'every person in .the community. Members-iha'd' agreed that the attention of the .scholars, at any rate in u ?? ree highest classes in each school, should be directed- to the.industriesi of the Dominion. .With regard to tho proposal. to ihaye essay , competitions, it was, felt., that Echool should not be. pitted against school. The Chamber of- Commerce gave separate , prizes for each. school—which, was a capital idea. There wore in aD'over 20 schools in or about the city and suburbs. '."'■• Mr. D.. Robertson -pointed- out • that essay" competitions we're all right in their place. He would, however,-like to 'see school displays, of handiwork. What.the.public wanted to know was whether the girls could make their own clothes,, and whether the '.'boys ■ could assist;to put ,up, say,' a fence. '•' ->■ .Mr. Foster pointed out that; manual work did not form part of tho work in public Eonools. Headmasters intended during industries': week to/give special .lessons' in commerciah geography and composition,' bearing particularly upon the industries of the Do° minion. If the children's minds were centred on the.-..various, local..industries.for»a. week the educatiyo'value to the children would : be N very great.- He. was of. opinion 'that much good would accrue if exhibits}", of roanufac-' tures were displayed at the varibus schools. Mr. Robertson said-'he remembered that when a display of children's handiwork was held , . , in,. ...connection .-. with. ; .- tne Clyde v -Quay... Soh.pol, .the. -..': variety of articles which was exhibited was surprising.:.- .Upon...being disposed.■ of articles reahse'd"a good Tbund'sum , ."' Recently he had called .uponiia; kdy w.ho";.was able to mako clothes, candles, and a number, of usefur articles. That Wijs the kmd of/student he would.like to'see the'schools turn out. (Laughter.) \ , Mr. Foster thought much good would also be done if the ..phildren were ..taken-! round , . various manufactories. The fact should, bo impressed onlchilfireh that imported' article's - ' were not necessarily.,better,.than ..■■articles produced within the Dominion'. Essay competitions would be limited practically to the elder scholars. :

Mr. Baliinger:;. thought.that .it, would .be a good idea" if there were also -displays 'of manual work* as- well- as'essay It was hia opinion that the exhibition should be held:in'the'Technical School or Concort Chamber of the .Towtt^Hall.!.' V . ■ Mr. Bennett- felt that it was,, rather' late to have displays of manual .work in addition to essay competitions. He.moved;that ..Messrs.-Newton, Bnll, Ballinger,- Partridge, >Mid the secretary should confer with a coin- , jnittee from-the,Headmasters'.;Asspciation. . Mr. J.' 'Smith, in! seconding the..motion, expressed -the ■.opinidE.'that tho committee ehould lie' given , a free ljand. . ':■■ Incalculable good would result if the;scheme evolved at the conference were carried into-effect. '. The motion was adopted. '- .-. ' ;