POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1926, Page 1

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

ADVERTISING STUNT.

WELLINGTON, July ,30. After the member for Manakau had .spoken three times on a matter affecting the Auckland Technical College, traversing the same ground on each occasion, the Minister of Education, charged him with working up his attack for advertising purposes. Mr H. E. Holland: You always say that when it comes from the Labour Party. ' The Minister: Oh, I think it is a splendid way of getting an advertisement.' (Laughter). In fact, I used to do it myself quite often, many years at»o, but I now think it a bad liabit. and I caution young members against it.

AGRICULTURAL BURSARIES

“I am not condemning'the bursary system, hut many experts are pointing out that it is not as successful as. might be supposed,” remarked the Hon R,. A. Wright, Miniter of Education, in reply to a suggestion from Mr Sykes (Masterton) that there should he more agricultural bursaries. The Minister added that the reason for the experts’ doubts was that it led to a system of cramming by boys and girls to pass an examination, but they then forgot ■ what had been learned. However, he was not unmindful of the interests of agricultural education, and lie had recently caused a- substantial grant to be made to the Feihling School, where lads were 'taught farming in all its branches.

UNEMPLOYED ON THE WEST COAST. Mr Secldon directed the Prime Minister’s .attention to-day to the fact that a serious position had arisen on the West Coast owing to so many timber mills having closed down, and ns a consequence a large number of men were unemployed. He asked if the Government would consider the question of employing the men on relief works on roads, especially as the Estimates provided for such expenditure. Mr Coates said he would be glad to have inquiries made with a view to having a certain number of fhe men employed on roads.

PETITION REPORTS. A petition of the Tiinani Trotting Club, praying for a .refund of £69, penalty inflicted on account- oi late payment of fees, has been referred to the Government by the Public Petitions Committee for consideration. The Lands Committee has no recommendation to make on a claim by Jessie A. Elder. Waipara, praying for compensation for loss and for inquiry into exchange of a Government property in Canterbury. Petitioner has not exhausted her legal remedies.