The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, February 7, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1205, 7 February 1914, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, February 7, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Stewards of the local Racing Club, at a recent meeting, discussed the necessity for an ambulance van at the annual race meetings, in case of accidents, and for the purpose of removing the injured with a maximum of comfort and the least possible delay. The rendering of first aid Is always provided lor at these gatherings, but the removal of the injured to the district hospital is a subject which is now exercising the minds of the stewards, A letter was read at the meeting from the Manawatu Racing Club on the same subject, enclosing particulars of a side car which that Club contemplate purchasing. Dr Maudl, the local Club’s surgeon, also tendered some valuable information on the subject to the meeting. The Club is to be commended for the step it is taking in the matter. We would point out that in an industrial centre, such as this, there is a pressing need for an ambulance vau or side car. Accidents frequently occur at the mills throughout the district, and as the hospital is twenty-four miles away, the necessity for such a vehicle in preference to the cramped space of a motor car, or the train’s delay, is self evident. The Racing Club would possibly only require the ambulance on two days during the year, and they could easily arrange for the hire of one to meet their requirements. Would it not be possible, therefore, for the millers, Borough Council and Racing Club to contribute a sum for the purchase of an ambulance ? The cost of upkeep and repairs would be more than counterbalanced by hire fees. We feel sure the local public would contribute liberally towards such a desirable object.

New regulations regulating the use of level railway crossings by vehicles, etc., are Gazetted and come into force immediate!}’. The following is the schedule of the by-lav/ :—(i) No person shall drive or attempt to drive any vehicle other than a motor vehicle or any animal on any part of a public road where the same crosses over or upon a railway on the same level otherwise than at a walking pace, and every person shall, before crossing the lines of rail comply with the directions upon the notice boards “Stop, Look Out For The Engine!” (2) No person in charge of a motor vehicle or driving a motor vehicle on or along any road or street shall approach a railway level crossing within xoo yards of such crossing without reducing speed to a rate not exceeding 10 miles an hour, and every person in charge of or driving a motor vehicle shall stop before coming in contact with the railway line, and shall keep a vigilant look-out for approaching trains and shall not attempt to cross the railway line unless the line is clear. (3) No person in charge of a motor vehicle on or along any road or street shall cross over any railway level crossing at a greater speed than 10 miles au hour. The penalty for breaches is a fine not exceeding or in the case of breach by a person employed on or about the railway ,£1 tor each offence.

The question of whether children attending primary schools have too much to do in the way of homework was discussed at a recent meeting of the Auckland Education Board. The following motion was passed“ That the board of inspectors be asked to inquire into and report on the whole question of what is known as ‘homework’ in primary schools,” The mover said he knew of many cases where boys and girls attending high schools frequently worked until 10.30 p.m. in order to get through the tasks set them by the teachers. He urged that there was something radically wrong when such a condition of things was necessary. While he was not opposed to homework, he considered it very undesirable to tax children to such an extent as might prove a menace to their health. One member gave general support to the motion, although he did not think that the primary schoolchildren were overworked in this respect. Personally, he was a great believer in homework, and he urged that the inspectors should be allowed to deal with the matter with an open mind. The chairman said that homework was a valuable adjunct to school work, and in well-regulated schools this work was arranged with such discretion that its value was uude-

niable. It was also resolved to ask the Teachers 5 Institute to furnish a report on tl e subject.