DOMINION’S CLEVER CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 186, 3 May 1940, Page 8

DOMINION’S CLEVER CHILDREN

Able To Rise To Occasion

PRIME MINISTER PRAISES SCHOOLS’ EXHIBITS

“If you want to know how clever the children of New Zealand are, you have only to look at the exhibits in the Education Court,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, speaking at the Southland farmers’ dinner at the Exhibition last night. “No country in the world could produce any better.” He went on to say that schools throughout the country had planned elaborate projects for participation in the Exhibition. Taranaki schools had gone to such lengths there had. been no room to include all tlielr exhibits, and they had been shown in Hawera instead. The children bad prepared histories of the districts of the province—not merely histories of the events of the past century, but even of botanical and other aspects. It-was one of the most hopeful things that the children of the Dominion could rise to the occasion in this way, and do such fine work. He had seen and heard the Southland Boys’ High School Band during its recent visit to Wellington. Never had he seen a 'band more artistically dressed, or which marched better and played better. It was a credit not only to its home province but to the whole Dominion. Again, here was a living testimony of what New Zealand boys and girls could do, if given the opportunity.