DOMINION ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS

] BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. BOY DROWNED. TAURAXGA. Feb. 23. ' A youth, aged Lj, named .Michael Afichefski, was drowned this afternoon across the harbour at Mount Alauii";:imii while bathing. A little girl heard Ins cries tor help, hut the lad disappeared before help arrived. 4'he body lias not been recovered. The parent's reside at tho Aloiint. FLORA HELD UP. C fTR I.STCHURCH, Februarv 2f. I 4'he steamer Flora should have left Lyttelton for Cfisborne last evening, but two fireman who signed off coil'd not be replaced despite tlio fact tnat there -are many Unemployed firemen in port. SUPREME COURT. PALMERSTON N., Fob. 2'. At the Supreme Court, a young man, I jhe publication of whose name was forbidden was ordered to come up lor sentence if called on within 12 months, on a charge of making a false declaration under the (Births and Deaths Registration Act and falsely ren-e----senting the mother of his child to Lei In's wife. He was also ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. COST OF EDUCATION. MINISTER’S REPLY TO CRITICISM. ' WELI.INGI'ON, Feb. 24. i The .Minister of Education, in an ad- . dress to lour hundred Wellington district teachers yesterday, replied in detail to the criticism by Sir Robert * Stout at the University Senate meeting in regard to the increased cost of Kdu- 1 cation in New Zealand. 4 fie .Minister also dealt with the ini-I mediate requirements in school courses, mil indicated that steps would be. tak-

en to improve the teaching of history and singing in schools. 1 he .Minister said he noticed that Sir Robert Stout, speaking in the University Senate, objected that the cost of education was increasing every year. Obviously, Sir Robert overlooked the fact that the cost of education must increase, as every year an additional <0:19 children came into the ' schools. 4 his natural increase necessitates the I employment of at least an additional 109 teachers and the building of more schools. The alternative was to crowd the already overcrowded schools and to revert tu the days when the average I class per teacher was 109 pupils. Only this year would ' the Department lie able to claim that the classes were I brought down to 09 pupils per class. I he Chief Justice had further said'that they must economise in the State’s expenditure and should commence with education, lienorahties got us no-j where and the critics should he specific. It would be found that almost all I Lhe increase in the past ten years was lor tcacncrs’ salaries and for more and letter school buildings. For a quarcr ol a century a “skin-flint” policy lad been adopted with the result that ouch ol the leeway had to be made up. ■ormerly salaries paid to teachers were oo low. 4’o-day teachers got a decent cage for the first time. Over 80 per cut. of the expenditure was for salar-

ies. Moreover, to ask the teachers, as was done years ago, to instruct a class of over 11)0 children could not he justified. More teachers had to he got, which means a higher salary hill. 4'he higher pay attracted good entrants.

WORK ON MOHRAKL DUNEDIN, Keh. 24. The call for Labour for the Moeraki mis responded in 1 his morning, and the ship will finish discharging to-morrow and proceed to Pt. Chalmers for overhaul and survey. FIRE A4’ HALS WELL. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 24. A fire early yesterday morning destroyed the district store and the Post Office af, llalswell. The mails were lost as well as stamps, and several hundred pounds worth of produce. Two telegraph pales caught alight and the, lire spread along the wires cutting off light and power in the district. The miner was awakened by a falling beam and had ins! time |<> escape with his life.

AUCKLAND PROVINCE. LIBERAL CANDIDATES. AUCKLAND, February 24. At the Provincial Conference of tlio Liberal-Labour Party 63 branches were represented including the city scats and a greater number of ] rovineial electorates. The candidates chosen for the general election were: YYainiarino—Smith. Eden Grigg, Rotorua - C'linkark. Franlclin -Rea. AY'aitemata—Burbursn. Raglan—-Lye. City East- Oakley-Browiie. Grey Lynn—Boole. Citv Central -Morton.

It was resolved to make ail appeal for funds for the Liberals throughout New Zealand.