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Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1922, Page 2

Hon (’. .). Pa'uk, Minister of Eduction, appears disposed only to apportion crumbs to Westland from the rich education vote it is in his power to manipulate. While in ether plae.s the M nister can find thousands of pounds to spend on palatial buildings of ; 11 sorts pertaining to education even the primary course here is neglected. It took years of agitation to have an. adequate school erected for the Watnroa district. It is taking, months to aelreve somo iiiing for the Kanicri ditrict, and ill nest the Minister can offer is a makeshift I roposal, either to erect a temporary moveable building, i r transfer part of Ihe old school at Kuniara to Kanieri Fearful and wonderiVl are tie opeiations of the mind which can put forward, so remarkable a suggestion. Tt was i'oitunate Hon. Grimmoiid and Mr Bigneli were present at the interv.ew in question to point out to the Minister the ridiculous nature of his—or hiDepartment’s -proposals. Mr Parr is to come this way, and the sooner the better, so that he may obtain, some fiist hand knowledge of the district. Westland deserves ns much consideration as any other part of the Dominion, and it should be made plain beyond any mis. understanding that the district will . ccept nothing less. Mi Seddon will, doubtless, be spokesman for the becalm at Kanieri wle.i the must postponed ministerial visit takes place. It should ho made clear to the Minister that any makeshift proposals will not

.e acceptable, and Llie committee p - rents and teachers at Kanieii should back up the request in no uncertain manner. The Kanieii school need cost only a fraction of the palatial structures the Education Department is erecting elsewhere. A costly structure is not required nor desired; hut the people <lo want a conilorable. sanitary building, and nothing short of such a structure will suffice.

The uses and abuses of tbe cinema are often before the public. At Home there has been a good deal of discussion lately in regard to the production of historical films —fli tis to sav, photodramas constructed around actual events of the [last, reproduced with as much accuracy as is practicable. Mr Hilaire Bellech for one, has been urging film producers to engage expert antiquarian assistance, and to sal about the making of this sort if pictmes in order that we English, who as a nation are not given overmuch to book-learn-ing, may acquire sonic knowledge of our own history by other and more entertaining means. Mr G. Tv. Chesterton has also been putting forward the same proposition; and has pointed out in a recent speech that a great nianv historical events might thus lie placed before us in a truer light than that of Accepted tradition. For instance, Hie signing of Magna Cliarta would make the theme of it great drama if only King John were represented in his true clmraeicr as a dashing, strong-will-ed I’lantagciiet and not as the cringing creature lie is so generally supposed to have been. Air Chesterton u.g. gested, 100, that in regard to the Am-'! erican War of Independence, there was something to be said in the Eng-ish favour, and that while on noth side--of the Atlantic today we all fhinx of George Washington and his ‘‘rebels” as men lighting for a just cause, wo must i remember that to King George and his •ministers they appeared simply n set} of arrogant and cruel slave-owners. The great prorogation of history 's tha I.

can look at both sides of a case with tolerance and sober magnanimity; and the cause of general good will in the world would certainly lie aided if the Idnema’s mighty power of dessemination were employed thus to put the conflicting aspects of ancient quarrels

fairly before us, presented with all Hie glow of romance and adventure and enthusiasm. The Americans have done this again and again in the case of their Civil War, so that every filmgoer now feels that his sympathies have to be divided, The kitlema, in fact, hits played a tremendous part'in banishing front malt’s mind whatever trace of partisan rancour in that regard still remained.. The Germans have forced their way into the American niarkets by producing some magnificent films dealing with great historical themes; and wc too must create big spectacular dramas dealing with these events in our history which are of equal interest in this country and in the United States. One can think of many suitable subjects; for instance, tlic early naval wars between the English and tiie Dutch, or the troubled events which led to the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers. Such films, says a writer in the Daily Mail, if skilfully produced here, in our own fields and woodlands, and on our own coasts and quays would command a wide market and would prepare the way for other British films, with the consequence that at length the English point of view, the English tradition, and the deathless English spirit, would have some chance of being presented to the world as now the American standpoint is. being presented. Great, romantic t de s of English love and adventure in accurate historic.il settings, lavshly produced, would thrill the whole world. We have an the material here: only the finance and enterprise are not forthcoming.