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Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1928, Page 2

PitouAin.Y because of the school term holidays there would not he many school teachers present at the Competitions this week. On Tuesday, Mr Bush, the judge of the elocutionary section, had some remarks to make about the prepared reading. He remarked on its general weakness and also the fact that so few competed. As he remarked there is art in good reading and the accomplishment must he a stepping stone to good speech. What the tests are at school in the matter of reading, we cannot say, hut it was plain, as Mr Bush remarked, that the reading as demonstrated was cold and colourless. The competitors failed to get hold of their subject, or become interested in the theme. The selection under notice at the time was an extract from John Buskin. Probably Buskin’s works do hot come much under the notice of the rising generation, hut the extract was simple yet lovely in its thoughts and diction. It dealt with the part “grass” plays in its mission to the world, and the point of view was certainly arresting to the ,mind. Of the throe B’s, reading holds first mention, and it might .he ex}>ecto(l that such a subject would enjoy a certain favoured popularity with tho average citizen. Tt, seems desirable at this juncture to call attention to what might be a. growing delect, if reading is not receiving tho prominence it should he in scholastic instruction. Naturally reading gives instruction in the meaning and expression of words, and one’s knowjechr of the vocabulary of the race can he expanded .hv reading. In that way a double purpose is served. But the most helpful aspect is the facility given to gain instruction in every day expression and to understand words and their value in a sentence. Good reading loads as we have said to better and clearer speech, and tho desire to retain our langauge as clour as New Zealanders are credited with speaking it, is certainly a worthy one. Beading should help in that direction. Probably at future Competitions the reproach recently made will lie removed by a handsome answer to the defect at present complained of. We certainly hope it will.