NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2314, 11 August 1921, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Since forestry matters have come ; so much before the public, attention ‘ Ims been drawn to the manner of ; seed distribution in some of the ■ pinus family (writes the South Mal- ; vern correspondent of the Lyttelton Times). The majority of the plnn- ■ lotions were started in the late seventies and early eighties, and these , trees are now bearing good seed. As ■ a result, young trees are appearing i in the most unexpected places, and as far as half a mile from plantation, An interesting spot is on the railway reserve adjacent to the Selwyn Plantation Board’s plantation at Coalgate, where hundreds of young firs may be found, but these are not allowed to continue growth. There is no doubt that if these places were kept free from stock and in a state of Nature, they would sow themselves without the aid of man. According to the Canadian teachers who have come to New Zealand under the reciprocity arrangements, there is great similarity between the principles of education in Canada and New Zealand. Canada regards the health of the clyld as a vital consideration of the State, and has dental clinics and special organisation for dealing with eye defects, as well as other physical weaknesses. Any disease diagnosed is treated compulsorily either by the department’s officers or privately. Religious instruction takes the form of daily repetition of the Lord’s Prayer, and Bible study for half an hour. Mr Massey, when interviewed by tbe Australian Pres* Association, said: “I regard the conference as being far and away the most important. gathering of representatives of the Empire ever held. A great deal of work has been essentially that- which is usually dealt with by Cabinet rather than by conferences. Apart from the Imperial War Cabinet, this conference was epochmaking, inasmuch as it has marked the first occasion that representatives of the Dominions have joined in Government of the Empire as a whole. Very important matters have been dealt with, and momentous decisions arrived at which will have a far-reaching effect in the direction of Empire unity. lam very strongly of the opinion that we have laid the foundation of a system which will in years to come develop into a satisfactory form of government- for the British Empire.”