GOVERNMENT AND KINDERGARTEN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2460, 13 May 1915, Page 2

GOVERNMENT AND KINDERGARTEN

BUILDING THE NATION. Tho annual mooting in connection with tho Richmond i'Veo Kindergartens was hold in tho Mayor's room of tho Town ilall last ovoiimg. Mrs. Gill, president of tho Kinderguiton Council, was called upon l.y tho Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, to preside, Tho annual report, which was read by Mrs. Gill, stated that tho Kindergarten Union was now formed into an incorporated society. The council of tho unioii was greatly indebted to Mr. David Smith for advico and help in carrying out the legal business of the incorporation. Tho four kindergarten associations of Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland had united as a federated body, and Miss Richmond was elected president, and Mis. Gill honorary secretary und treasurer. By this federation it was hoped that the association would be strengthened in asking help from the Government, and that such a result had been attained was shown as regarded examinations. Girls who had passed Public Sorvico entrance and received two years' training in any of the Free Kindergartens, belonging to the federation were now entitled to sit for a Government examination and receive a Government certificate. In June a successful dance, originated and carried out bv Mrs. D. 0. Bates and her committee, brought in £60. Thanks were due to the Bristol Piano Company and C. Begg and Co. for concessions made regarding tho payment of two pianos. The resignations of Miss.Richmond, Mrs. Winder, Mrs. Lindsay, and Mrs. Beveridge were received with regret. The death of Mrs. Cohen, vicepresident, one of the earliest and hardest workers of the association, was a great loss. Miss Riley was reappointed for another year, as head mistress. Reference was made to the fine records which had been made in London under 'the Froebel Union of three former students, Misses Bennett, ,Fell, and Hursthouse, who had passed l examinations with honour, and also to Miss Tabuteau, another student, who has received a good appointment under the Education 'Department in New South Wales. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr. W. Ferguson remarked that the committee had worked very hard to realise such results. Ho was sure that the rearrangement of matters in connection with tie working of the kindergartens made by the committee, assisted by energetic workers in the-various distnots in which kindergartens were established, would have the effect of placing the finances upon a better foundation. Mr. M. Burnett, in seconding the adoption of tho report, urged that the Kindergarten Union form a strong deputation and interview tho City Council, asking for its assistance in carrying on such an important educational work as that of the ltindergartens. The Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, paid a strong'tribute to the va'ue of the kindergartens in Wellington. Speaking as «■ private citizen, not as Mayor,' after having seen the Work which was done iu them among the children of the City, he would be glad to use whatever influ,ence he had in drawing attention' to the claims which they undoubtedly possessed on the citizens of Wellington. It was work that was very closely connected with the interests, of the country, and had claims upon the interest of the City in partioular. He assured those present that the Macarthy Trust took a real live interest in the kindergartens. The Hon. Dr. Collins, M.L.C., also spoke appreciatively of the value of the work achieved by the kindergartens. The report and balance-sheet . were adopted. .Another speaker of the evening was Professor Hunter. He did not think that New Zealand stood creditably in regard to tho actual interest taken by the educational authorities in'kindergarten work, botli in the past and the present. They had to convince the Government that it was a necessary part in tho educational system of any country, that it was of real importance. It was necessary everywhere, in every community of the country, but it would not do at the preesnt time to ask the Government to take over the movement. Valuable work had been done with limited resources in training students, some of whom had had to go abroad to get appointments. There was one way in which the Government might be urged to meet the committee and that was by asking them to make a pound for pound subsidy on every pound that was raised in subscriptions. With a stimulus given to subscriptions • there was no reason why an income of £500 a year should not be gained in this city. As a matter of fact the work should have been extending instead of having been limited to the four schools. In regard to the City Counoil, be was aware that it had not a large amount of money at its disposal, but it had a certain amount. They wanted sympathy from the majority of the oouncil, and the way to get it was to interest councillors in the movement, to show them that it was a good one, to convince them by putting facts before the individual. They had to make an attack upon the ] Government, upon the City Council, and then upon the country. With the Government making it an integral part of the school system there would be a gradual extension of kindergarten work m Wellington, and it would become more far-reaching in being part of the recognised scheme of education. Miss Riley, headmistress of the kindergartens, ■ read the annual report, which covered the ground already touched upon by Mrs. Gill, and a'so made an eloquent plea for students and for assistance in furthering kindergarten work. The following officers were elected — President, Mrs. Gill; vice-president, Mrs. Burnett; Executive Committee, Mrs. Gill, Mrs. Burnett, Miss England; treasurer and secretary, Miss Hiscock; assistant secretary, Miss Vickerman; assistant treasurer, Mr. Gunn; auditor, Mr. W. C. Stephens; council ( Mesdames A. R. Atkinson, Clark, Darling, Dixon, Ewon, Grady, Hannah, M'Laren, H. Smith, Coward, Vickery, Moran, Mal-lc-tt, Misses England, Finlayson, Helyer, Phoebe Myers, Newton, Stowe, and Hiscock. THERE ARE REASONS WHY MRS lIIJLLEN STOPPED USING ELECTROLYSIS! Electrolysis marks the skin! Electrolysis is really painful! Electrolysis causes other hair to crow! Call on Mrs. Ilullen, and she will give you practical and scientific reasons for the baleful effect of Electrolysis. Mrs. Hullen will also demonstrate the wonder-, ful effect of lier Rusma treatment for the removal of superfluous hair. Rusma is painless, leaves no mark, removes tho disfiguring hair at once, and eventually destroys the growth—a cure is absolutely GUARANTEED. Surely you aro prompted to call or write? Do so to-day! Mrs. Hullen, Beauty Specialist, Boulcott Street, Wellington. Dept. 3. 'Phono 1017—Advt. Fragrant Violets. — Large supplies arriving daily. Send your friendß an Artistic Posie of Violets or one of our popular Violet Boxes, packed and posted, Is., to any part, of the Dominion. MisS Murray, Vice-Regal Floriste, 30 Willis St. —Advt. In hntiT n, motor-ovala I)H6 boan di'ivfin 1Q miles 1323 .twos,