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Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1924, Page 2

“Tiie day has gone by when the lioy is the only one to get education in the family,” remarked the Minister of Education (Hon C. .T. Parr), when presenting the prizes at the gymnastic display and elocutionary recital given by the pupils of the Wellington Girls’ College

last week. “As Minister of Education.” said Mr Parr, “it is my duty to go up and down the country visting the various schools, and T wish to compliment the people of Wellington in possessing

in Wellington Girls’ College one of the finest educational institutions, not only in the Dominion, hut in the whole of Australia and New Zealand. In fact, it is one of the finest schools south of the line.” Proceeding, the Minister of Education said that the audience would have observed in the gymnastic display given that evening the benefit of looking after the health of the hotly ns well as developing the mind. What was the use, ho asked, of looking after the mind if the hotly was not healthy? The first essential of education was the physical well-being of girls and boys. The results they had seen that night were sufficient justification for the new department which had been set up. Po many avenues were open to girls today that it was essential that they should receive sound education in order that they might be able to successfully wage the battle of life. Many of the girls would marry, and no helpmate was so valuable as the girl who had received a good education, as she would be flble to hor husband in his

difficulties. It was, therefore, essential that girls should have a sound education whether they married or whether they did not. “'Your school in 'Wellington,” proceeded the Hon. Mr Parr, “owes a groat deal to the scholarship and organising ability of the headmistress, Miss McLean, and the ahio staff she lias under her. Long may they continue to do good work for tlie.se girls of ours and the Dominion as a whole,”

TiiKim is a very insistent demand for reform of the licensing laws this session, hotli hv the Licensing Reform Association and also the press of the" Dominion. But for the reasons given on a previous occasion we doubt whether the Government will toy with its “majority” in Parliament on this question, and will find a way to leave "well” alone. An exchange dealing with the subject goes on to remark that only a cursory glance at the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Licensing Reform is required to reach the conclusion that there is no possiblity of the recommendations brought forward finding their way on to the Statute Book this session. Indeed it is extremely doubtful whether certain of them could he forced through the present house in lace of the opposition they are certain to provoke, even if they were brought forward at an early stage of the session instead of during its dying bonus. It is not unnatural that the prohibitionist section of the House should regard the recommendations as being favourable to tlie licensing trade. On the whole, they certainly are. The committee plainly has shown that it lias the coinage of its convictions. The question of the extension to four years of the period which must elapse Indore the enforcement of prohibition in the event of No-License being carried and tho recommendation that in the event of Continuance being carried there shall ho no further poll for a period of nine years will no doubt provoke the strongest possible opposition from the prohibitionists. Setting aside these recommendations, however, there are a number of other proposals which moderate people will recognise as being likely to have a beneficial influence on the licensed trade if given effect to. It is regrettable that owing to the almost inevitable deadlock in prospect in connection with the more controversial issues, these proposals for the better regulation of the trade are likely to he passed over for at least another session.