PUBLIC OPINION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2518, 3 June 1909, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION.

KINDERGARTEN WORK

A phase of education of which little is. heard in the Dominion but which is worthy of warm encouragement is that known as the kindergarten system. There are so many demands upon the public exchequer by tho higher branches of education that the Government can not support, the kindergartens to the extent some people desire, but fortunately there are philanthropic people in the Dominion who are assisting the movement. Thus we find that Dunedin, for instance, has its free kindergartens, and the experience, so bar as the children are concerned, has been highly satisfactory. The system might with advantage be extended to many towns in tho Dominion which tiro without kindergarten instruction, but outside of tho four centres the question of finance is not easily determined. In London and other large cities in the Old World the instruction is carried on extensively both in public and private institutions, but in the colonies the movement is by no means far-reaching. The value of the system has received woffld-wide recognition, and it lias long since passed tho experimental stage. It is in the early years that a child, is most subject to impressions and influences, 'Uber©forte the kindergarten years should bo tlio most valuable of school life. As a speaker declared recently, tho kindergarten system is, built up with a thorough regard to pvschology, and while it imparts much valuable knowledge, it forms the infant mind, saves it from vacancy, and gives it the habit of attention,, which is the foundation of all knowledge. It is to be regretted that kindergarten work is not carried on more extensively in this country.—“ Manawatu Standard.” THE PRIME MINISTER’S PROPOSAL. If Sir Joseph Ward sent Mr. M/Nab to London and took up Mr. M'Nab’s work here, gave us an efficient citizen army, and attended to tho other business of the, country, the interests of the Empire and of Now Zealand would surely be best served. —“Evening Post.” THE EMPIRE HOLIDAY. We have never been able to see why the Prince of Wales’ birthday should receive in the colonies an amount of formal recognition that has never been claimed for it at Home, and considering the importance of the movement and the value of tho associations already connected with May 24, wo hope that before another year is passed Empire Day will supersede the Prince of Wales’ Birthday as a statutory holiday.—“ Auckland Star.” A DOUBTFUL PRECEDENT. There is to be what for the lack of a better term may be called a caucus on a. largo scale. Sir Joseph Ward has summoned on informal meeting of Parliament. Or, to put things more accurately, he has summoned, or requested all members of the House to be present at an informal mooting to discuss Statp business, two days before Parliament can legally meet. As no resolution capable of being made law is possible at this meeting, tho position seems to be that those present will be asked to assure themselves and the convenor of the gathering that Parliament should be postponed for about four months in order the Prime Minister may attend the Naval Conference. If this country really needs a Parliament, if the cost of larliament is a reasonable burden upon the. people, it does not seem appropriate to adopt the view that Parliament should be induced to hibernate for sixteen or seventeen weeks. There is public business calling for attention. Some of it is pressing business, tins ono-ht to be dealt with whether Sir Joseph Ward goes to London or not. Apart from that, and considered as something quite novel in our political history it seems that this resolve to hold an informal Parliament three days before Parliament can legally assemble as Parliament, constitutes a somewhat doubtful proceeding.—‘\Daily leiegraph.”