The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, February 22, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1010, 22 February 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, February 22, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The mass meeting of the flaxmills’ employees to discuss the “highly unsatisfactory reply received from the Flaxmillers’ Association,’’ in regard to the demands of the swamp hands is taking place at Palmerston North to-day. The altitude of the Union executive does not meet with the approval of the men engaged in this branch of the industry in this part of the district, nor does it meet with the approval of the men engaged in other branches ot mill work. Judging from remarks passed by local employees, the Union executive is in for a warm lime. From what we know of the millers hereabout, they are reasonable men and are prepared to do a fair thing by their employees. The differences of the past have been satisfactorily settled and there is a feeling of mutual trust. The trouble comes from a quarter outside this district and has been fomented unnecessarily. One thing is certain ; there will be no strike and further, it is possible that the Union will lose ground over the business.

A paragraph in the Governor’s speech, which we hope will bear fruit, independent of which party assumes the reins of office, is that having reference to railway concessions to infants. The proposal contained in the speech is that children up to live years of age shall be carried free and from live to fourteen years at quarter rates. At present infants over three years, and under twelve, are charged half rates. For some time past we have urged that the railway department should allow children up to six or seven years of age to travel Iree on the railways, and have given reasons in support of making such concession. We also brought the subject under the notice of Mr Newman, M.P., who promised to give the matter his heartiest support. We have received the fol lowing further letter from Mr Newman on the subject;—“ You will be pleased to see that the Government propose to allow children up to live years free, and from live to fourteen at quarter rates. If the Government is deleated I shall see that this important matter is not forgotten by the new Ministry.”

Thk Stagpoole appeal case is dragging on, and the main points are being overshadowed by much unnecessary twaddle. The evidence of two educational experts as to how a school ot the grade mentioned should be conducted has been taken, and Stagpoole has staled his case. No doubt the Board of Inquiry has already made up its mind as to the finding. One or two side-lights of importance to head teachers have been disclosed. One is that assistant teachers have been in the habit ot sending confidential letters touching school grievances to the Chairman of the Board. This, to our mind, should not be tolerated. If a teacher has cause tor complaint against the head teacher or any member of the staff, such complaint or charge should go through the proper channel and in a straightlorvvard manner. The committee is the buffer between teacher and parents and tire Board, and tailing a satisfactory settlement from this quarter, persons aggrieved should then transfer the matter to the Board. Private and confidential letters from teachers to the Chairman of the Board should be knocked on the head.

According to the evidence of the Chairman of the Ifinton School Committee, one of the members of the Education Board has a marvellous conception of the qualifications ot a head teacher. “Mr Bennett made reference to Mr Stagpoole’s qualification, saying that he would be found very useful in reference to concerts and entertainments, and recommended Mrs Stagpoole as a good singer. Mr Bennett said that Mr Stag poole was just the man to ‘pull tuc ifinton school together!’’’ We don’t know what would become ot our educational institutions it teachers were appointed according to Mr Bennett’s standard of fitness.

The following notice of motion has been tabled lor the next meeting of the Carterton School Committee: “That the medical practitioners of Carterton would greatly oblige the school committee by examining the school children at four-monthly periods annually, and lecturing to the elder boys upon sexual physiology; their ladies to give a brief address to the

elder girls.” In reply to an enquiry, the head master, Mr Burns, stated that in other places special lecturers had been appointed to speak to the children on these subjects. This proposal to appoint the doctors was a new thing, and if carried, Carterton would be leading the way. He considered that such lectures should be given to children of the sixth standard and upwards. In the Carterton school this would include about 40 girls and 40 boys. We hope to see other schools throughout the Dominion follow Carterton’s example.