NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 239, 6 July 1944, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Beautiful City “AVellington is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, but 1 am sorry to say that even some of our own citizens do not realize it,” said the mayor, Mr. Appleton, when welcoming delegates last night to the conference of the Dominion Federation of School Committees Associations. “AA’e have at AVadestown one of the most beautiful collections ot native trees in New Zealand.’ First Whitebait of Season. The first whitebait of the season was sold yesterday morning at the public iisti markets in Millington. Ibis lot, only one tin; was received from Pukekohe, from which district the first of the new season’s whitebait usually comes. 1 oxton supplies do not as a rule come to hand till October. Sex Instruction. ~ The Dominion hederation of School Committees Associations, at its conference in AVellington yesterday, adopted a, remit that further consideration be given to the introduction of a carefully planned course designed to prepare the school child for sex instruction, any such course to be submitted to the federation for approval before being put into operation. Telephones in Schools. . The Dominion federation of .school Committees Associations ' has decidea again to request that telephones be made available to all schools, the cost to be borne by the Education Department. It was stated at the conference of the federation yesterday that this facility was necessary for emergency purposes, though it was realized that telephones could not be provided till war conditions lilted. Staffing of Schools. The opinion that the constant changing of class teachers during a, term should be seriously considered, as this was detrimental to the scholars’ progress, and that teachers should remain with their school till the end of the year was expressed, in a remit approved by the conference ot the Dominion Federation of School Committees Associations in AA ellington yesterday.

“Flare Path.” The YVellington Repertory Society has decided that Terence Rattigan's successful plav “Flare Path” shall be the next production. Since Rattigan scored such, a hit witli "French without bears, he has gained exn-rience as. a member c>. tlie R.A.F., and is now a flight-lieutenant. It is small wonder that the new life provided for him a subject for a breathtaking play. “Flare Path” has been running in London for two years. Free School Books. . "A start has been made with the issue of school text books, but so far Standard I arithmetic only has been made available,” stated the annual report submitted to the conference of School Committees Associations in YVellington yesterday. “These issues are free to pupils, and it is hoped that there will be a speedy release of other text books. It is known that the Education Department is pressing on with their preparation.” . Instruction in Swimming. Subject to any physical disability or note of excuse from the parents, the Dominion Federation of School Committees Associations at its conference m YY effing; ton yesterday resolved, swimming should be made compulsory in ”->mar.v schools which have swimming baths, and that it be made part of the school syllabus. It was considered that the facilities should be maintained by a special grant from the Education Department to the various boards. I Tlie School and Home. ' , “YY’ith the issue of apples, the distribution of milk, the blowing of noses and all these other things. I sometimes think that the school is taking on itself more than it should do.” commented the Director of Education. Dr. C. E. Beeby. when addressing the conference of the Dominion Federation of School Committees Associations last night. “Sometimes I think the home is giving up too much to the school. However, the influence of the home is necessary for the child’s mental, spiritual and physical growth, but the important thing is to see that, we get a close contact between the school and the home.”

Airman’s Ambition. , A speaker at a conference ot L’resbytcrian. lav>mtn hold in Auckland iccenti) to discuss rehabilitation mentioned the difficulty sometimes experienced in ascertaining what vocation a serviceman desired to follow on his return from overseas He said he had a son who was an airman. YY’hen he had written asking what his boy wished to do, the boy replied that he was too busy fighting to consider it. Not satisfied, the father scut, an electoral roll and asked his son to. mark ' iii it anv occupation he saw winch lie thought would suit him. The roll camo back marked “retired gentleman. Freezing YVorks Close. YY’hen killing operations at the Mataui.i works of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, Ltd., ceased- at the end of last 4.40,060 carcasses of mutton and Innib had been dealt with for the season. This compares with 416,000 for last sensou, when the works were closed loi tht slTi-hter of sheep and lambs on June Cattie will be killed for another two or three weeks. Though the feed position early in the year indicated that tarmeis would be compelled to carry oter a fair . large proportion of lambs, the later imnrovement enabled them to send a „reat<.,i number to the works than was expected. Wanted By the Police. ' Sneaking home on her bicycle one ni-ht recently a young Christchurch woman was suddenly bailed by a strange ni'in who immediately gave chase.' reirified the girl put. her head down and pedalled for dear life, witli the ™ a "’ *? ! ’ u on a bicvele. hot on. her heels. Hott etc . youth was triumphant, and she sho<A off. her oursuer. Arriving home, bl eaHiles-, the girl told her mother, who immediate!.) t-in“ the local police station. .1 he countable who answered the telephone heard the story, asked for name ami :id<liess. and then announced that she «as just t.voting woman he was looking for.. - was subsequently fined 10/- and ( .osts in the Magistrates'. Court tor riding a 1)1 cycle at night without a light.

Missing for a Month. A month has passed since Lags disap neared, and since then there has been o iign of him. He was presented to.tlx Wellington Central Fire neailj • • veer ago, and he remained with them till early fu June. Many and varied hav been the dogs brought to the station i mistake for Rags, so to escape contusion a label stamped “Not Rags" llas *. attached to the collar of each unsuccess ful canine. Many kindly people have offered to replace Rags with aunther terrier but as vet none ot these oilers h.n been ailed upon. At present there « a dog with the brigade. Tie was mistaken for Hags, and when taken to the station bo immediately set up a temporary residence there. He answers to the mime < t ••Grandpappy.'’ and at. heart ho ls .. wanderer. He is sometimes missing tor days, and so. unlike Rags, he is not very consistent mascot.