THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 12 May 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

I More Absurd | Mis-statemsnis. ! The truth oi the adage on- '' ■ : knowledge is dangerous” iajh:- • {led in a statement made ay -T: s j-.-I Wilson at the last meeting of tee j Manawatn County Cosmo!. When , cussing the matter of hospital kvm j sir Janies (we quote from the • ‘Man ■vatu Standard”) “quoted tue Otrtr:; i Hospital as a case in point or ~tate control- The institution, li.- mi. never contained more tnu:i '■even a* | any one time, and yet cost aloou a year ; to maintain.-” Pos.-it.dy sir Jame• ; Wilson may have known something ot : the Otaki Hospital when it was a cot--1 tage hospital, many years ago, but hm j statement quoted - above is entirety j wrong. The Otaki Hospital has aceom- ! medation for IS patients, and on many i occasions has had irom 15 to Is Ki; j occupied. The average number or ; occupied beds per diem for the year ending March 31st. IMS. v.as OS—practically 10. fetr James Vi-sl-j- ----: could have know.. the=e facts, and it , i: a pity that he doe.- not make asm- ' r elf acQuainted with the true po-HiOu. I pf affairs before.he makes i the lasi meeting V- '-*> •"* ■ —remarks that arc .caicUi&ted to <*e . tta tract 1 roni the gooa z-~-Otaki lio»nital ha- aiv by.- pOssOrsCU. and create a totally wr-A-.g of the institution. Some A lae leinar*.»«*.catly made public v.its rfeuarc to u,v Uco.i Hospital arc - Literary and Debating Club. Seeing that: th-s Otaki Literary ana 192 d tfiiSioc, we -rrotsld Hit* to commend this ssciery to the cordial supperr of

the community. In these days of pleasure-seeking, when young people seem to have too muck to attract them from their homes, during the winter evenings, and when reading, other Ilian that of rubbishy novels, is so little indulged in. organisations such as this 1 can be made to serve a most valuable purpose, and assist in maintaining that fast-waning interest in the arts of reading, public speaking, reciting, i music, etc. It must not be inferred from this statement that the local club meetings are dry and prosaic and such that young people cannot enjoy. The aim of the club is to instruct and entertain. and the syllabus adopted i;> of a. varied nature, providing something that all classes of people may enjoy, and vet, at the same time, will furnish

entertainment of a little higher order and more lasting nature than that provided by picture theatres ami music halls. Much societies as the Otaki Literary and Debating Club have done splendid work in various parts of Niwv Zealand, ami left their stamp on many a young man and woman, who has thus been induced to take a keen interest in literature and public speaking. The Otaki Club has been established for a number of years', during which really excellent work has been done. The membership is fairly good, but might well be doubled, .is wo are sure that all who join will not only enjoy the meetings, but will derive lasting good, a high standard of work having been set in the early days of the Club, and well mainiained throughout. Wc ask all who have the welfare of our young people at heart to accord this Club their hearty support.