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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2091, 28 May 1907, Page 3

The Federation of Trade Unions has now a membership of over half a million.

Tho subject of technical education in country districts was introduced at the Farmers’ Union dinner (says the Herald, Auckland) by Mr. H. Wily, who waxed somewhat sarcastic respecting the course of instruction in nature study now being given at some of the country schools. He referred to the proposed form of certificate lately put before the Education Board, by which it xvas claimed that three months’ instruction would render a teacher competent to impart teaching in all subjects, from treepruning to astronomy. He also said that a country teacher had lately stated that it xvas not necessary for her to close her school to attend the nature study class, inasmuch as slip had taken a three weeks’ course of instruction at Auckland during the Christmas holidays, and was therefore now “qualified to teach agriculture in all its branches!” The great jumble of ideas on a hundred and one subjects that would result from a whole three weeks’ study xvas, he added, something fearful to contemplate.