AN EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24227, 20 February 1940, Page 8

AN EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM

Unfortunately it is not the general tendency of the school population in New Zealand to increase. The Dominion is become the home of an ageing population. The opening of a new school year has not brought serious embarrassments in the way of the provision of accommodation for the young people whose plastic minds are to be guided during, the next twelve months along the paths of learning. Just, however, as there are exceptions to most generalisations. one has turned up in Auckland. While some of the secondary schools in that burgeoning metropolis have opened with diminished roll numbers, the official explanation being that, as the number of children completing their primary school course last year was not below normal, an unusual percentage must have gone to work, there has been an exception in the case of the Seddon Technical Memorial College, the only one of its kind, of which the roll number has expanded. That might appear no very novel or astonishing circumstance in itself, but it has introduced, it seems, a problem of accommodation. This loomed so seriously that the college principal even felt - constrained to suggest that the attendance should be “ rationed,” the proposition according to differing versions being that a hundred children should be sent home every fourteen days, or that each child should be allowed to absent himself or herself one day in every three weeks. It is an old saying that desperate ills demand desperate remedies. Not that the pupils concerned would be likely to consider that the suggested remedy had any desperate aspect whatever! If normally constituted they would be expected to rejoice greatly in the thought of a holiday every three weeks —a gift, an unheard of concession of something like fifteen holidays over and above the usual list in. .the course of the year. It seems, however, that the hopes which must have been aroused in the children in this case are likely to be disappointed since the latest intimation on the subject has been that the school’s predicament has been temporarily overcome —doubtless, though details have not been broadcast, in some entirely prosaic and not at all mysterious way. The distinctiveness of a school or college may sometimes, it is evident, be a source of embarrassment to it, since other establishments cannot very well take its overflows off its hands. After all, ninety more pupils to begin the year with can hardly be described as a staggering increment of youthful aspirants for instruction. So far as it would create a problem it suggests a working upon a too narrow accommodation margin. Discussing the reason for overcrowding in the case of the Seddon Memorial Technical College a Northern contemporary is unwilling to attribute it entirely to “ growing pains ” on the part of an expanding city, and suggests that it is in part “ a consequence of the increasing awareness on the part of parents of the value of a technical education ... a consequence of a healthy public demand.” It may be so. But such a conclusion is surely a rather large one to draw from a particular instance. It would be of interest to know whether the spreading parental awareness of the value of a technical education which has been postulated has manifested itself throughout the Dominion. If not—and in the case of Dunedin there certainly appears to have been no such manifestation —Auckland would be the more thrown back upon her growing pains. It is a relief, however, to think that the continuity of the education of the young people in that city is not to be interfered with in the meantime by the introduction of the rationing principle. ,

Public Health Returns

A substantial freedom from infectious disease in Dunedin is revealed in the public health returns for the week ended at noon yesterday. One case of poliomyelitis remains at the Dunedin Hospital, while one case of scarlet fever was admitted to the Logan Park institution, where two patients remain.

Paid Holiday A paid holiday will be granted in Dunedin to-day, according to advice received from the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb) by Dr D. G. McMillan, M.P., to men employed under scheme No. 13 by local bodies whose ordinary employees are being granted a paid holiday. «»

Exchange Control The establishment of an exchange control board in Canada, aiming at the conservation of foreign credits, was mentioned by Mr Gainor Jackson at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. All payments, he said, would have to be made to Canada through official channels, and the new system of control would prevent dealings in the “ black exchange ” market between New Zealand and Canada. The new system, he added, would also almost entirely preclude imports now being made on special licence, under which there was no remittance of funds. Less Petrol in December

Showing the effect of the first period of petrol rationing, the quantity of motor spirits released from bond last December declined, compared with the corresponding month of 1938, by 1,681,000 gallons to 8,363,000 gallons. The latest Abstract of Statistics remarks that this decline occurred although the number of motor vehicles licensed at December 31 was 14,743 in excess of the number for the last month of 1938.

Early Land Deal The announcement from Sydney that a deed of indenture recording the sale of the South Island in 1840 for £IOO had been discovered there reminded a local resident that she had in her possession a copy of a deed drawn up two years earlier recording the sale of an area of about 200 acres at Bluff. The parties were Edwin Palmer and John Towack, chief of the tribe of Kito. Edwin Palmer made his first visit to New Zealand as early as 1826 and for some years following 1835 was a partner in a whaling venture with John Jones, who was mentioned in the message from Sydney as one of the parties to the 1840 transaction. The deed recording Palmer’s transaction is now in the Hocken library. It was drawn up in Sydney and was signed by the Maori chief with his tattoo mark. “ One sealing boat, the sum of twenty pounds sterling, one dozen of axes and adzes and a quantity of slops in hand well and truly delivered ” constituted the purchase price of the land, which remained in the hands of the Palmer family for. 60 years, though Edwin Palmer in 1851 settled on another property at Otokia.

A National Art? “I have often been asked if there is a national art in New Zealand,’’ said Dr A. H. McLintock, director of the National Centennial Exhibition of New Zealand Art, at the formal opening ceremony last night. “To this question I must answer that I do not think so and I doubt that such an aim will be realised until we realise the distinctive and peculiar characteristics which we have to express. If we are too closely wedded to overseas art, we will not appreciate these things. It is local art that demands our support and not that from overseas. In Australia, for instance, the visitor will find the work of Australian artists prominently displayed and not hung in corners. If the art galleries in the coming year will build up a comprehensive and well-selected collection of New Zealand art and display it, they will be doing more for the country than they would by the purchase of the best art from overseas. Let us make this a crusade for New Zealand art. If we succeed in this posterity will look back to the Centennial year as one of real achievement and the Government will be well rewarded for the trouble it went to and the difficulties it overcame in arranging this, the most significant art collection presented in the Dominion.”

Port Chalmers Swimming Pool A move by the newly-formed Port Chalmers Swimming Club to interest the Government in the establishment of a centennial swimming pool on the Mussel Bay reclamation area was discussed by the Port Chalmers Borough Council last night, and it was decided to grant a provisional site for the pool on the area south of the bowling green in order that negotiations concerning the employment of labour might be carried on without delay.

The Übiquitous Chewing-gum That the chewing-gum habit is fairly well established in New Zealand would seem obvious from the experience of the staff at the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s ground, Wilding Park. It might not be thought possible that chewing-gum could be one of the problems to be overcome in the production of those velvety lawns; yet such is the case. Chewing-gum is used by many players, its chief benefit probably being the relief of nervous tension associated with a hard match, although it probably provides a certain amount of sustenance as well. But the übiquitous gum finds its way to all parts of the grounds, and it is all too easily picked up on the rollers of the motordriven mowers. A small piece of gum will spread over quite a large surface of a roller, and this sticky area plucks at the stems of grass and leaves them standing up when they should be lying down. The chewing-gum habit has more objectionable features, however, and the refreshment room staff .can speak forcibly on the point. They will tell the inquirer that he has only to look on the urider-surfaces of any of the tables in the tea room to find dozens of pieces of the sticky substance which have been “parked” there by players before eating.

Waterfront Control An article on the subject of the control of labour on the waterfront was reproduced by us on the Bth inst. from the New Zealand Transport Worker, which is the official organ of the Federated Waterside Worker. It was printed by us because it presented the viewpoint of the waterside workers’ organisation on a matter which is now engaging the attention of the Government. We were of the opinion at the time that most of the statements contained in the article were either unjustifiable or misleading, and we did not, therefore, associate ourselves at all with them in according to them a publicity which they would not otherwise have received. It has now been represented to us that certain of the statements contained in the article were not only flagrantly untrue, but were also grossly defamatory and libellous of the shipowners in New Zealand and the representatives in New Zealand of overseas shipping companies. We agree that the article as a whole reflected most unjustly upon the shipping companies which were the object of attack in it, and that it improperly imputed to them actions and motives of which there could be no possible substantiation. In these circumstances we have no hesitation in expressing regret for the insertion of the article and in, for our part, repudiating the statements made in it, so far as they affected the controllers of the shipping industry in the Dominion.

Centennial Choir

The Centennial Choir, of some 280 voices, held a successful practice last night in preparation for its coming performances. The major work in hand at the moment is Vaughan Williams’s “ Sea Symphony ” and the choristers exhibited a quick and appreciative understanding of its requirements. Good progress was also made with a number of minor pieces that are to figure on the programme. Gift of Coins

A gift of a set of coins and medals has been made to the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) by Mr Henry George Williams, of Dunedin, to be placed in the foundation stone of the Centenary Memorial to be erected on Signal Hill. The set consists of a Waitangi crown piece and George VI “proof” coins, ranging from id to 2s 6d. There is also a centenary medal, 1840-1940, issued by the New Zealand Numismatic Society. Another gift by an anonymous donor is a set of currency coins ranging from id to 2s 6d. The laying of the f»undation stone will take place to-morrow at half-past 2 o’clock, when the coins will be placed in a sealed receptacle.

Arrest of German Nationals Two more German nationals living in suburbs on the outskirts of Auckland have been arrested and put in the charge of the military authorities. One man has been resident in New Zealand for about 40 years. Their ages are between 50 and 60 years. Four Germans were taken into custody last week, making the total from Auckland since the outbreak of war 13. The two men arrested earlier last week on a warrant issued under the Aliens Control Emergency Regulations have been placed in the internment camp at Somes Island, Wellington. Spldiers at Lonely Outposts

Soldiers from this country who are on service overseas are not all concentrated in the Middle East. There are others occupying lonely posts abroad, and their welfare is not being neglected by the National Patriotic Fund Board. A recent example of the efforts of the board on behalf of such men is afforded by an order which has been placed with a Wellington firfh to supply, at the request of the Army Department, a six-valve radio set for the benefit of New Zealand troops on an unnamed island beyond New Zealand. The set has to be specially constructed because of the peculiar atmospheric conditions operating on the island, otherwise the troops would not be able to hear the broadcasts from New Zealand stations. The set will be battery operated. Rating Systems

Arrangements for the circulation of petitions demanding a poll of the ratepayers of the city on the question of rating systems were made at a meeting convened by the Otago Labour Representation Committee last night. The meeting was briefly addressed by the president of the committee, Mr A. J. McDonald, who presided, and by Mr M. Silverstone. There had been a storm of protest about the new rating valuations, Mr McDonald said, and the Labour Representation Committee had come to the front to assist those most badly hit. . It was explained that 3500 names were required to enable a poll to be taken, and it was pointed out by Mr Silverstone that if a poll were taken before the end of March and unimproved rating were carried, it would mean that the new system would come into operation a year sooner than if the poll did not take place until after that date. Petitions could be signed only by persons whose names were on the valuation roll, put where the property was owned by one or the other both husband and wife could vote. Scenic Road Praised

“The scenery in the. Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and up to the Homer tunnel has left me tongue-tied,” is he tribute to the beauties of this region contained in a , letter from Miss Violet A. Roche to a Dunedin resident. Miss Roche is making a tour of the South Island in the interests, of the Australian National Travel Association. “It is greater,” she adds, “ than the muchadvertised Yosemite in- America, and that is saying a great deal, for the Yosemite is very fine. When the tunnel is through, you will have one of the great thoroughfares of the world.” “ Now Is the Time ”

Advice to persons dissatisfied with their recent property valuations was given by a man who attended a meeting convened by the Otago Labour Representation Committee last night to make arrangement for the circulation of petitions demanding a poll on rating systems. “If any of you people have any complaint to make about your valuation now is the time to see the city valuer about it,” he said. “I went in to-day and got £lO knocked off mein. They have got the wind up properly, I can tell you.”

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