POPULAR LECTURES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10698, 20 August 1912, Page 6

POPULAR LECTURES.

(To the Editor Wtiirarapa Age.) J

Sir, —Although we lire in an ago of I "leagues," "missions," and- "agencies," there is no doubt that a great | amount of latent talent is allowed to ! rust or go to waste amongst us. We are in advance of the Old Land in most respects, socially and politically. However, there is one movement or institution there that deserves to be introduced or adopted here. I refer to popular lectures on literary .and scientific subjects, politics and religion being' barred, by nearly all mechanics' institutes in Britain Those may be said to be delivered in every town and village during the winter months, supplying a great amount of information on the subjects dealt with, and stimulating students to pursue studies that very often are not merely to their own advantage, but to that of the nation at large. In fact, lecturing is there a profession, and the principal source of income of a very great number of men and not I a few women. Of course the.present season is too far advanced for ourselves to do anything in the matter. By another winter, however, it should be possible to inaugurate something of the kind. Surely Masterton. that has been able to 'no-license, will be able to succeed in this, and perhaps set an example to other townships. We have a number of professional men and others who, I have no doubt, would willingly fall in with the. idea and lecture on different subjects, while men from a distance could likewise be got to assist. Only the other week, Mr Allan, of the Auckland Institute, said that although that city contained a population of thirty thousand adults, not one hundred, he believed, took any interest in scientific matters. Very much the same may be said of other centres, and/it is scarcely creditable to the Dominion that such should be the case. It is accordingly for every well-wisher of the country to do his best to foster a spirit of inquiry in our young men. At present in their hours of leisure they have nothing to interest them but billiards and boxing. Both are well enough in their way. and sufficient for some. On the other 'hand, there are many with intellectual testes that the study of literary or scientific subjects would develop if given the opportunity. Biographies of clis- ; tihguislied men tell us that by means': of lectures. their curiosity v;is first aroused, and afterwards their pro- J eress aided by the same, Domestic J 'coiioni.v miglit likewise come in for ] a share of- attention. This is the more necessary as of late years at- , tempts have been made to teach it, including cooking in schools. Howover, the tender age of many of the pupils prevented it being a success. We liave seen at exhibitions juveniles ; Masquerading, with caps and aprons* on, as cooks who would have been more in their element dressing dolls and making mud pies. Not only would the popular lecture correct that sort of thing, but it _ would _supply much useful information that is badly needed in most households, such as. food values.and question of a like nature. In the hope that the matter may lead to discussion and ah attempt made to imitate our friends at Home. : —T am, etc.. BRITON. Masterton, August 18th, "UPi'2.