TALKIES AND SPEECH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3996, 12 September 1929, Page 4

TALKIES AND SPEECH.

Danger to children’s speech, owing to the introduction of American “talkie” films, was mentioned by Mr. iSpenceley Walker, retiring president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, at the annual meeting last week- (states the “New Zealand Herald”). Mr. Walked' expressed the opinion that the branch should consider the Question of the effect of the “talkies,” and should also investigate the unsupervised attendance of children at Saturday afternoon picture matinees. Stating that much work had been ac- [ c omplished by the branch during the year, Mr. Walker said that much more remained to be done in the broader aspect of education. There were outstanding problems 1 in the social side of education, and the branch could do much greater work in a horded’ way. “Many of us feel that there is a very grave danger in the introduction of American ‘talkies,’ ” the speaker added. “These films are going to have a very bad effect on the children of New Zealand. Another thing which could be investigated by the branch is the Saturday afternoon matinees, which children attend without supervision. In my position as headmaster of a large t city school I feel that there is a great danger in this. It would be , possible for the branch to increase 'its activities by consideration of these questions.”