The league was intended, said Professor Waters, to rally the men of the various congregations to the work of the Church, and to create amongst them a spirit of fellowship and mutual interest. The league has appointed Mr Magnus W. Johnson as secretary and the Rev. W. Scorgie as organising agent. In addressing the Presbytery, Mr Scorgie emphasised the need for such a league to quicken the men of the Church into a deeper and keener interest in all its undertakings. They should organise as the Roman Catholic Church was organising, and interest themselves more in the political, social, educational, and religious work of this dominion. The Presbyterian Church had been living too long on the memory of past achievements and not enough had been done to keep it in the forefront, and he hoped that this new league would instil fresh vitality into all its branches.
Secondary education
In the course of an address at the Christchurch Technical College on Saturday the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education), referring to the great importance of continued education, said that he had for some time been closely following investigations that were being made in other countries concerning the relation of the standard of education reached by school children to the nature and permanency of their subsequent occupations. The most recent results showed that of those who received a secondary education, 90 per cent. became skilled workers; of those who reached Standard VII, from 50 to 70 per cent; of those who reached Standard V, 31 per cent; and of those who reached Standard IV, 18 per cent.
Control of aliens
The control of enemy aliens was one of the subjects which came before the Returned Soldiers' Conference at Auckland last week. It was decided to suggest to the Government that these people should be disfranchised for life, and that they should be compelled to work for the public benefit at a soldier's rate of pay. It was also decided strongly to urge the Government to bring down legislation to prevent the sons of enemy aliens not eligible for active service on account of nationality adding to their present holdings of land or making purchases of land for the duration of the war and for five years thereafter.
Unusual fish
A large fish measuring about 12ft in length and 18in in width has been washed ashore on the beach at Fall Creek, Wangaloa. The stranger has a peculiar crest above the head, and also has a tuft of hairy substance under the jaws. It is one of the finlesstribe, and the skin is of a bright silvery colour. A silvery coating is left on the fingers when they are rubbed on the fish's skin.
Indian immigrants
Practically every overseas vessel that arrives in Auckland brings a large number of Indians, the majority of whom disembark at that port. They seem to experience little difficulty with the education test, while the Chinamen seem also successful in that respect. - ODT. 5.6.1918.
