The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, September 2nd., 1913. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1141, 2 September 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, September 2nd., 1913. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Speaking at the public meeting at Foxton on Friday night, the Chairman of the Education Board said that one of the needs of the hour was some system of carrying on technical education. At present there was no such thing in existence in the Dominion, although there were miles ot red tape. No method was in vogue of deciding whether it was desirable to establish classes except the extraordinary crude one of compelling the local authority, to start the classes and make them pay before even the idea of building is entertained by the Education Department. Mr Pirani asked what sort of business could bfe started 01' rim on these lines. N instead of the present dnmbrous system of putting the education authorities to the trouble of holding meetings, canvassing probable pupils, and worrying the life out of the public-spirited local residents, the Department decided whether the population in a certain district warranted the erection of a technical school and its equipment, conditional on the Education, Board providing instructors and working up classes, h?, was sure the progress of technical j education would be greater and* more systematic than under the existing haphazard mfetliod. He referred with pride to the great work being done in this and other districts by the instructors, and the encouragement offered by local bodies and other imbsciibers, to which was mainly due the great success already • attained under the immense handicap by the central department.

A Westport telegram last week staled thijt a woman had died in that towii -jfrom “ pellagra,” a new disease reported at the recent Medical Congress in Pomlon. According to the Post, the disease is not new, dor its existence has been known to medical men for many years. It has wrought terrible havoc in Southern Europe, and also in Japan. It was noticed that Japanese soldiers, who had been afflicted in large numbers by the disease, greatly improved when their rice diet was changed and meat introduced, supplying the protein element. From this it is inferred that flesh food is necessary for the human- system. Dr. C. S. Crarasby, Medical Secretary of the United States Commission on the

incidence of pellagra in America, draws the following conclusions: — (i) Pellagra is a disease due to infection with some living micro organism. (2) The possible habitat of this parasite in man is the intestinal canal. (3) Deficient animal protein in diet may constitute a predisposing factor in the contraction of the disease. (4) The number of cases of known pellagra render this disease a possible menace to the public health of the State.

A smau, band of philanthropic ladies and gentlemen have inaugurated a scheme for giving British boys and girls who have transgressed the law an opportunity of reforming themselves. The scheme is based on an experiment carried on at Detroit, iu the United States, which is said to be very successful. Lord Sandwich has handed over, rent free, for the use of the promoters of the scheme, a daily farm of 190 acres in Dorset. On this farm will be established a little settlement of boys and girls ol about 16 years of age. A beginning will be made in a small way at first, but the total population of the settlement, or “Little Commonwealth,’’ as it is to be called, will eventually be about 80. The boys will be trained in gardening and carpentry, and they will have to make the roads'iu the settlement and to build new cottages as required. The girls will be trained in domestic duties, and various handicrafts suitable to their sex. There will be an adult superintendent in charge of the settlement, and for this post the services ol a gentleman who was for six years connected with the Detroit experiment have been secured. But the main object of the scheme is to provide character training for the inhabitants of the “Little Commonwealth,’’ and the sentimental promoters of the scheme believe that the best results can be obtained by allowing the boys and girls to govern themselves.It is intended to create by means of self-government, a sense of personal responsibility, so that the collective consciences of the boys and girls forming the community will solve the problem arising out of any breach of good conduct. The “ Little Commonwealth” will have its own laws and its own court for meting out punishment to offenders-

Inglewood is interested in the Chief Justice's decision re the motion brought by Mrs Hamer to prohibit the local Corporation from showing moving pictures. Inglewood ratepayers sanctioned a loan for the erection of a wellappointed Town Hall, which is nearing completion. From what we can gather Irom the local paper, it is the intention of the municipality to follow Foxton’s example in respect to picture entertainments under municipal control. The Record sets out in detail the claim and defence in the Foxton case, and concludes as follows“ One interesting piece of information given in the Mayor’s affidavit is that the profits of the concern were more than sufficient to cover working expenses, and have enabled the corporation to pay off the loan raised for the erection of the hall, and to pay interest and sinking fund on such loan. In view of the approaching completion of our Town Hall, the fate of the Foxton case, as an interpretation of the Municipal Corporations Act so far as the powers conferred by section 299 is concerned, will be exceedingly valuable.”