CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRIZES

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1565, 8 October 1912, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRIZES

ARE BOYS DETERIORATING P At yesterday's meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce further consideration. Was given to the matter of awarding prizes for competition in the fitnto schools on tho motion of Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, who was desirous that the Chamber should continue the prize grant. In moving tho resolution Mr. Leigh. Hunt said that there prizes had boeii granted by tho Chamber sinco 1006 and had produced good results. Ho was sura that the prizes for tho three subjects gave extra encouragement to thjir study. The motion was seconded by Mr. W. .T. Thompson who said that the Education Board and tho headmasters greatly appreciated the action of the board.

The chairman said that this year tho Chamber had voted ,£25 to the purchase of a picture for the National Art Gallery, and there seemed to bo a consenMis of opinion that tho prize money should not bo voted this year. In any ease it had to be voted at tho annual meeting and for some l reason or other that had not been done. The finances of tho Chamber were such that it was estimated that they would havo a surplus of over and above the expenditure of tho year, and it was advisable that they should or fir as possible conserve their funds. Th«!re were things ahead which anust be ttvUn into account. Tho premises were unsuitable for their secretary and it is possible that they might: have to consider the question'of getting out before very long into moro .suitable premises. Mr. James M'Lellnn said that the giving of tho prizes had not achieved its object in any way. It was given in the hope that they would get belter t boys for office work, but instead of getting ft, better class, the boys they were getting showed deterioration as far ns education, was concerned. The prizes went to the wrong Iki.vs, to thoso who were too young —but nothing had been achieved of any practical moment. Mr. C. W. Jones said that when the matter was raised in 1900 he had teen the only one against it, and on that occasion he had been snt upon by Mr. M'LeUnn. Mr. M'Lellan: That's your recollection of it?" Continuing, Mr. .Tones said that he bad had experience of another scheme of tho same sort and it had had no appreciable effect nn the attainment* of hoys .goinsr into office. l .. Such expenditure was, in his opinion, quite useless. On the motion being put it was nega* lived by five votes to four.