Early closing debated

Cavalry passing a clearing station on the Western Front. - Otago Witness, 18.7.1917.
Cavalry passing a clearing station on the Western Front. - Otago Witness, 18.7.1917.
The New Zealand Educational Institute, in a letter which was read at yesterday's meeting of the Otago Education Board, asked the board to urge the Government to give favourable consideration to the proposal for the early closing of hotel bars.

Mr Wallace said he was neither a prohibitionist nor a Good Templar, but he thought the time had arrived when the board should approve of the curtailment of the opportunities for selling liquor.

He moved; ''That the board agrees that the curtailment of the hours for the sale of liquor is necessary, and in the interest of the youth of this country.''

Mr Wilkinson seconded the motion. He said he was gratified that the institute had seen fit to take the matter up, and had taken such a strong stand, and it was the duty of the board to support the recommendation. Mr Horn questioned the propriety of the board discussing the subject.

The Chairman (Mr Fleming) said the letter was from a responsible body, and was quite in order. Several members suggested that the subject be dealt with by the board in committee. Mr Livingstone said he was quite prepared to ventilate his views, if necessary, in open board.

Mr Horn moved as an amendment, ''That the board expresses the opinion that the Government should take steps to prohibit the importation into, or the manufacture or sale within, the country of intoxicating liquor during the period of the war.''

He was of opinion that Mr Wallace's motion did not go far enough. Mr Wilkinson said that, if the mover was agreeable, the motion should be withdrawn in favour of the amendment.

The board concurred in the withdrawal of the motion, and the amendment became the motion, and was adopted without further discussion.

Saluting the flag

The Otago Education Board had before it at yesterday's meeting a letter from the National Efficiency Board in which it was recommended: (1) That the school flag be unfurled and saluted by children on entering schools as a means of inculcating strong national sentiments in the minds of boys and girls; (2) that short lessons on the history of the Empire and our duties to it should be prepared for each standard, and that one of these lessons should be given each week.

It was stated that the Minister had approved of the recommendations, and had expressed the hope that they would be favourably received by school authorities throughout the dominion. Mr Brugh said ''the mountain had been in labour and had brought forth a mouse.''

Surely, in these strenuous times, there were other matters of greater moment to be dealt with by this important body. The board concurred with Mr Brugh's remarks, and resolved to ''receive'' the letter.

Oysters in Cook Strait

A report has been received by the Minister of Internal Affairs from Mr L. F. Ayson (Chief Inspector of Fisheries) as to planting oysters in Cook Strait. He stated in his report that 60 sacks of Foveaux Strait oysters had been satisfactorily planted.

The best place for experimental oysters was somewhere off White Bluff to the Awatere River, on the Marlborough coast. The work of planting should be continued in the strait next season. The splendid oyster beds in the South Island possibly would be depleted shortly, as the demand for oysters was increasing every year.

There was a large market in Australia for New Zealand oysters. No effort should be spared to conserve the natural beds. The supply could be increased in time by planting new beds in suitable localities around the coasts of both islands.

Painful katipo bite

A case showing the serious nature of the bite of the katipo spider occurred at Awakino (says the Taranaki Herald). A young man named Thomas White, aged 23, was working in the flax near the beach, and, on returning to his whare on the main road, suffered from pain just below the knee, which investigation proved to be due to the bite of a katipo found in his clothing.

His leg swelled right up to the thigh, and he suffered intense pain all night, but his condition improved next day.

- ODT, 19.7.1917.

COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ 

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