NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

School Children and Tram Fares.

Support is to be given by the Wellington Federation Educational Association to a move by the Newtown School Parents' Association to obtain a reduction in tram fares for children, travelling in sports teams on Fridays and Saturdays. In a letter read at a meeting of the association last night it was stated that with their limited amount of pocket money it was almost impossible for the children to pay their fares sometimes, especially where it was necessary to change cars. Maoris on the Land. In pursuance of his endeavours to stimulate in the Native race interest in production from tho land, the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata) addressed a meeting of Maoris at Kawhia on Monday. Sir Apiraua said ho had come to try to help the people, and he asked for their co-operation. Maoris on the east and west coasts had the same problems and troubles to overcome. They were looking to tho young people to revive the energy of their forefathers. As their proverb had it: "When the older generation is exhausted, replace it with virile youth." Tho Minister said he did not com© as a teacher. Ho came because of a long desire to see them, and secondly, as Minister representing the Maori people, to learn their wants, to hear thoir views, and seek a way out. The work was already in hand. Waste lands were being brought into cultivation by Maori farmers, in Rotorua, in Waikato, and in Waiuku. He concluded with a strong appeal to join the movement, promising them the assistance of the Government. Flying By Moonliglt. A wonderful moonlight trip by aeroplane was experienced by Major G. A. C. Cowper, of Hamilton, early on Tuesday morning (states a Hamilton correspondent). Major Cowper left Rotorua at 3.45 a.m. and arrived at Hamilton exactly an hour later. The moon was shining brightly and there was not a cloud in tho sky. Flying at 5000 ft., Major Cowper had a magnificent view of tho moonlight on Mount Ruapehu, and on tho waters of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Oceaii. Tho lights of Auckland, Tauranga, Arapuni, and Hamilton were clearly visible, and tho whole scene made a gorgeous panorama. Major Cowper, who was travelling alone, made aii excellent landing on tho Hamilton aerodrome at Rukuhia. World's Sunday School Children. "There are 30,000,000 Sunday School children in the world, constituting a splendid nucleus for the establishment of a Christian; Commonwealth of Nations," stated: the Rev. E. P. Blamires (general secretary to the Methodist Young People's , Department) at the young people's demonstration, held at Wesley Church, Taranaki street, last night under the auspices of the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. No less than 11,000,000 of those children, he added, were in the Methodist Sunday Schools of the world, the teaching in which was given in some 150 different languages; so that it might very safely be said that at .least 150 to 200 nations were represented by those 30,000,000 of Sunday School children (approximately). Mr. Blamires referred with great appreciation to the valuable work done for the Sunday School movement in New Zealand by the late Mr. George Tiller, of Wellington, for many years superintendent of the -Wesley Church Sunday School, which at the end of last century was the largest Sunday School in Wow Zealand, having' 800 scholars on iho roll. Ho told also how Mr. Tiller had visited America and had introduced into this country the " cradlo-rol) f' syßtein which obtained in Mr. Wahamaker's Sunday School there—a system now in oporation and producing wonderful results throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion. (Applause).

Did Not Even Eeply. "In an enlightened country such as ours it is deplorable that there are so many people who have not a sense of fairness to respond in some way or other to requests for payment of their indebtedness," .stated a report received at a meeting of tho Auckland Hospital Board on Tuesday concerning tho payment of hospital fees (reports the "N.Z. Herald"). "A little courtesy expended in this way would not only save the board from much trouble and expenditure, but it would also save tho debtor from tho ultimate ' action which must bo takou in Court." It was stated that a number of persons had failed to reply to the board's request for an explanation. Overcrowding of Schools. Strong condemnation of the overcrowding of school classrooms was expressed by a number of speakers at last night's meeting of the Wellington Federation Educational Association. Instances wore given of schools having from 40 to 55 pupils in one class. Mr. F. L. Coombs said that from the standpoint of education the largest class any teacher should bo called upon to have was 30. After the question of improving tho conditions had been gone -into at length, Mr. J. J. Clark .moved the following motion, which was carried unanimously: "That in view of the serious inconvenience of the overcrowding in schools in Wellington, the replacement of very old buildings and the unsatisfactory position pertaining in Wellington at the present time owing to the question of the establishment or otherwise of junior high schools, this association respectfully asks the Minister of Education to como to a decision as quickly as possible." 'The Oldest Pilot." The oldest pilot of the New Zealand Air Force, and one of the oldest in tho British Empire, is now undergoing a refresher course at the Wigram Aerodrome. He is Flight-Lieutenant W. M'Kenzie, commonly known as "Chineso Mac." That title came to him through the job he oneo held of teaching the Chinese to fly. It was after tho war that China suddenly took an interest in aviation, and Captain M'Kenzie, as he was then, became an instructor in the Chinese Air Force for two years. Ho was a middle-agod man when he joined the New Zealand Army Dental Corps (for ho is a dentist by profession) during the war. In Egypt he managed to "wangle" his way into tho Air Force, although he was much above the average age.. A representative of the Christchurch "Star" asked Flight-Lieutenant H. B. Burrell, acting O.C. Wigram Aerodrome, about old pilots, and he recalled that when he was in France in 1916 he knew two English pilots whose total age was 97 years. They had little use for young men, and always worked together. A Government ?urchase. . A block of 900 acres of partly improved land situated 16 miles from Waerenga has just been purchased by the Government for closer settlement, from Mr. J. Biddell, jun. '■ Mr. K. M. Graham, Commissioner of Crown Lands, told an "Auckland Star" reporter that it was the intention of the Government to cut the block into a number of dairy farms, probably seven. This would-be decided after a visit by himself. _ Mr. Graham said the scheme of subdivision would be drawn 'up in order to 'throw open the sections for ballot as soon as possible. The Commissioner says the purchase is a satisfactory one in-every way, and he has no doubt the result will be a very successful subdivision and settlement. Out of hundreds of local offers made this, he ; says, is the only block the Government so far has been able to purchase. ■" it has been bought at a price which the Department regards as quite reasonable. The land is capable of being very much improved, and under close settlement there should be asgreat increase in. production. The block is half excellently drained swamp, and balance is undulating and suitable for both cattle and sheep. The Government will take over the land in Juni, and hopes to have farms ready for occupation by next spring. • .. ' '" Handel's "Messiah." "Last year and the year before performances of 'The Messiah' were given in aid of benevolent objects, and it is rather interesting to recall the fact that the first performance of 'The Messiah' in 1742 was in aid of a charity," remarked' Mr. H. Temple White, conductor of the Harmonic Society, at last night's annual meeting at which it was decided to give a performance of "The Messiah" on Good Friday in aid of some worthy object. "I suppose no single work has been given more often ir. aid of cnarity than Handel's 'Messiah'," c\ tinued Mr. White. "It would be difficult to conceive any more appropriate work for Good Friday." ' Time's Narcotic. In. thanking members of tho Harmonic Society for re-electing him president at last night's annual meeting, Mr. E. A. Wright, M.P., explained that he had been president of the society for so long that he would be quite willing to give way to.someone else. . If another president wore elected he would still take an interest in the society's work, and he did not want members to think that a change would hurt his feelings. "You see," added Mr. Wright hnmorously, "I have been so long in public life that I have no feelings left to hurt." Mr. Temple White made similar remarks regarding his reappointment as conductor. "I have had sufficient variety tf experience to have no feelings at all," was his comment, "but the feeling I have at the present time is one of pleasure at this renewed vote of confidence by the society." Causes of Static. Whether cyclonic disturbances on the Tasnian Sea are in any way responsible for the static which interferes with radio reception is a question being investigated by the following Committee of exports conducting wireless experiments under tho auspices of tho Department of Scientific and Industrial Research:—Messrs. A. Gibbs (chief engineer Post and Telegraph Department), Professor Jack (Dunedin), Professor Burbidge: (Auckland), Mr. Bingham (engineer, New Zealand Radio Broadcasting Company), and Dr. Barnett (physicist, Department of Scientific Research). Tho Committee conferred in Wellington and static was a line of research decided upon. Special measurements of strength from Australia are being conducted, to ascertain the conditions causing absorption, and whether meteorological factors enter into the matter. The New Zealand committee will co-operate in a world-wide research into the properties of short waves by observing transmissions from Arlington, Schenectady, Eindhoven, and a Japanese station. Dividends in Bankruptcy. Dividends in about seventy-five bankrupt estates will be paid .out shortly by the official assignee in Christchurch, Mr. J. H. Eobertson. The estates represent the accumulation of some years, one of them dating back sixteen years. In this particular estate it will not be possible to declare a final dividend yet, as some of the assets are subject to a life interest and aro not available for realisation. Mr. Eobertson, who was recently appointed to Christehurch, states that it is his practice to pay the dividends as soon as he can, and wind up tho estates as expeditiously as possible. In many estates this cannot be done, as there are cases in which assets cannofc be sold expeditiously.