PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1929, Page 7

PRESS COMMENT

Wo admit that tlio examination .system is open to improvement. Canon Arolnlall maintains that the teachers ol secondary schools—including, of course, private schools, which arc open to inspection—should he kept in .touch with the examiners, that the syllabus for matriculation should he more precisely defined, and that while the matriculation test may still serve as entrance examination for the University, there should also he issued hy the schools a “leaving certificate” of a more general character and a higher cultural standard. All these proposals deserve serious attention, and in any case it is a relief to find the examination quosttion discussed with so much rationality and common sense.—“ Auckland Star.”

i The vocational guidance phamphlct issued by the Education Department makes an admirable effort to show the avenues of employment in all spheres of work in the Dominion, and the section dealing with prospects of employment and advancement in the different trades is just the information that a large number of parents need most.. The statistics presented will prove of undoubted value, and will certainly he helpful in determining the occupation to be followed by many of our young people. The onus of choice is too often laid upon the boy himself, making him the judge, not only of bis own capacities, but also of the conditions of tho particular occupation or profession with which lie must necessarily be imperfectly acquainted. The phamphlct, however, carries the permissible inference that here is a splendid scope for the co-operation of teachers and parents, not only with each other, but also with the various professional and business organisations in the community. The information supplied by the Department on the choice of a career will be welcomed by parents, and may be looked upon as an important contribution to vocational guidance.—“Lyttelton Times.”

Two statements made by the new Minister of Health, in reply to his lirst official deputation, in Auckland, will cause disappointment at least, while among those keenly interested in tho subject tinder discussion, the impression will he even more disturbsing. The deputations appealed to the Minister for more accommodation at the St. Helens Hospital, describing it as really inadequate, and remarking that the number of applications for admission is steadily increasing. An extraordinary answer was returned to these representations. The deputation was told that the Health Department holds that these hospitals were established for the training of nurses in midwifery, and that the provision of additonnl accommodation is a responsibility of hospital boards. Even more surprising is the Minister’s apparent acceptance of the dictum that the material mortality rate in New Zealand compares very favourably with those of other countries. The actual fact, which. incidentally was cleared demonstrated in the Department’s last annual report, is that the 'New Zealand rate compares very unfavourably with those of at least nine countries, five of which have records or less than three deaths to every thousand births, while the New Zealand ratio averages nearly five.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

For n very short time after tlic .settlement of the Dominion (until 1808) adherents of tlic Church of England were a little more tlmn half of the total population, hut although that is still the largest church numerically, its adherents are now only 41.2 polecat. of the population, with Presbyterians numbering 24.fi per cent., Homan Catholics 12.9 j>er cent., and Methodists 9.0 per cent. There is indeed only one case in which the adherents of one religious body are a majority of a whole district, and that is the case of Southland, where Presbyterians number a little more than half of the total population. And the most striking fact after this one of the absence of a majority faith is what the Report calls the relevancy between religious faith and industrial distribution. Although Anglicans show “no very definite departure from normal trends.” Presbyterians show a noticeaide high and Homan Catholics a noticeable low ratio in primary pursuits, Methodists a rather high ratio in manufacturing, and Baptists a tendency to turn to commercial life and the professions. Finally, it is shown that if there is an employing, as opposed to a wage-earning, faith, it is that of the Confucinns, with the Hebrews coming next, while Seventh Day Adventists and members of the Salvation Army come last.—Christchurch “Press.”

The <|ucstinn is whether the subject of the examination fetish is to lie preserved merely as an annual topic for speech-day addresses, or whether after so many years of profitless discussion. an active effort will be made to institute a lietter system. It is not a responsibility of the university; its council may decide whether the matriculation standard is sufficient for entrance to the university. The provision of an adequate leaving certificate examination, with its consequent reactions upon the organisation of the secondary course, is essentially a matter for the secondary school authorities. There is need for leadership, and if teachers of the eminence in the profession of Mr Mahon and Canon Arclulall

would co-operate in a precise explosion ot their views and marshal the support oi other teachers in sympathy with them, their influence would force the issue to a practical conclusion, to the great benefit of both the secondary schools and the youth of New Zealand. —“New Zealand Herald.”

In retrospect, the year 1928 had its great days and its disappointments, as exemplified by the few events it is possible to single out in a brief review. Nothing that lias happened justifies pessimism. Everything points to New Zealand proceeding steadily in the path of tranquillity and prosperity in 1929 and beyond.—“ New Zealand Herald.” ' I

The reported failure of the attempt to float a New Zealand company to engage in tho Ross yea whaling industry will be noted with a good deal of interest and curiosity. If there is no further attempt to make New Zealand whalers the successful rivals of the Norwegians, the British and the Australians, in the Boss Sea, whose waters arc almost in sight of New Zealand’s back windows, then the Dominion is too limp and lazy to look after its own interests.—Christchurch “Sun.”

The outstanding fact in the annual statistical report on agricultural and pastoral production is that there has been remarkable expansion in the primary industries of New Zealand This was indicated by the interim returns; the final statistics for the year emphatically confirm the excellence ot the position. 'There are now 85,716 occupied holdings, an increase during the year of 88. If the latter number sepms small, it is notable as evidence that the decline in the three preceding years has 'been checked. The real condition of farming is, however, revealed hy other statistics, which show that, even if the extension of settlement lias been arrested, there lias iheeji a progressive intensification in the use of occupied land.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

New Zealand has no reason for looking askance at the. infant year 1929 its sire lias (brought us to a degree of prosperity, and the child is going to hear tho Dominion farther down that happy way. Our economic troubles are vanishing and the difficult days that afflicted us have now gone, leaving nothing but the scars of healed wounds. Only national disaster can cheat the country of a sucessiou of prosperous years of which 1928 was a cheery-faced forerunner. It will he a prosperity in which all may share if thrift and wisdom keep check on recklessness. New Zealanders, working together for the common good, should in future days, have kind thoughts of the year that bows to-night, and remember it kindly as the begetter of golden days.—Auckland “Sun.”

An examination of the Arapuni allegations conveys the impression that Mr Holmes’s attack upon the undertaking was due to his having made erroneous deductions from adequate and misleading informaton. So much is at stake, however, that it would be imprudent on the part of the Government to accept the assurances of its officials, responsible as they are for the scheme, that the Arapuni dam is a stable and sound piece of work. Jl may cost tlm country several thousands of pounds to obtain an independent endorsement of the judgment of the Hublie Works Department, but the expenditure will be fully justified if it leads to a removal oif the sense of fear and uneasiness which the publication of the criticism has caused among the residents of the Waikato district.—-‘Otago Daily Times.”

In'some of the minor hut very promising branches of production, marked progress was recorded last year, and there- is no apparent reason why this season should not see still further growth. Our export trade in pork is 'assuming larger dimensions and here too, efforts are being made to improve the breed of pigs, and so ensure the quality of output that will command attention in overseas markets. There has been cheering evidence lately that New Zealand [trodnee is becoming recognised as the standard of quality in British markets, and no effort must lie spared to maintain this valuable reputation. 'fbe aid of the scientist is being enlisted for the purpose, and with cordial co-operation and support from those actually engaged in the various spheres of production, the year that lies ahead should see further progress made.—“Lyttelton Times.'’

One general impression produced by a survey of the play at the tennis championships is that systematic coaching by competent experts would lie extremely beneficial to the game, throughout the -Dominion. Even the more experienced players wer constantly guilty of taults that should be corrected or avoided, in stroke production or in llie tactics and strategy of the game. But it is among the younger players that coaching would find its most, fruitful field. The splendid displays of Malfrov and Aligns, and in a lesser degree ol Sturt and Steelman, showed that we have fine material ready to band, and even the competitors in the boys’ and girls’ championships though some of them illustrated almost every conceivable fault in

strokes and in positional play, revealed a natural capacity lor the game that should amply justily systenmti* coaching, even,at heavy expense to the local clubs or the New Zealand UawiTennis Association. —Auckland “Star’

There have lately been successful prosecution of bookmakers, male and female, who operate on a small scale but we never, or almost never, boar of the prosecution of the magnates in tbs illegal industry. These men, who turn over £IOO to every £1 turned over by the small •offenders who are so easy to circumvent ,opera to in every city in the Dominion and many l ol them are as well known as the town clock. They are left unmolested, or a I least escape any attempt that the authorities may make to obtain evidence against them, may he. a result of their waUhfulness and ingenuity hut it may also he a result of poor technique on (lie part of those responsible for enforcing the law. Effective regulations may he possible, hut that they are notpossible is far from an established fact, When he likes the Postmaster-General can shut out anybody who lie has reason to suppose is using the post for purposes uudesired hy the State; the Gazette contains hundreds of names of persons for whom the Post Office will not carry letters. It ought to he possible for the telegraph branch to show an equal efficiency in dealing with the bookmakers.— Christchurch -“Press.”