AMERICAN TALKIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 20 September 1929, Page 2

AMERICAN TALKIES.

INFLUENCE ON LANGUAGE. “I think that it is the most ludicrous thing that has ever been said in New Zealand so far as the pronunciation in schools is concerned. New Zealand is without exception the most careless of the British possessions in that respect, and there is no attempt at all to give a foundation of proper English in the primary schools.” \ This was the comment made by Mr J. W. Rutherfurd at the monthly meeting of the committee of the Palmerston North Technical School, last evening, when inference was made to the influence of the talkies on the English language. 'the mattar arose out of the following remit carried at the annual conference of the Technical Education Association of New Zealand:—“That the Government be urged to do something to discourage the showing of American 1 alkie .films on the ground that they are likely to undo the work in the schools in promoting the correct pronunciation of English.” “I think there is a lot m the remarks made at the recent conference that, if the American talkie films are not censored, they are going to do a lot to destroy pure English,” said Mr M. IT, Oram. The chairman (Mr AV. R. Birnie): I think that it will adjust itself. It is a bit early to start. .criticising. The board 1 decided to support the remit passed at the conference.-