In New Zealand this conception has been by no means lost sight of, and throughout the year much has been done to win increased recognition for the child and a wider understanding of its needs and claims and surpassing significance. Such recognition is indeed a very accurate test of the progress and culture of any community. It is only at this late stage of human development that childhood is winning its rightful place and beginning to have sympathetic provision made for its peculiar needs.
The Children’s Exhibition opened here in the Brydone Hall yesterday afternoon is a very remarkable demonstration of this new spirit and attitude towards childhood. It is in keeping with the high educational traditions of this city that such an enterprise should have originated and been carried through here. The plan took rise with the Otago Council of Sunday School Unions, under whose auspices the exhibition is being held.
The promoters really builded larger than they knew, and the project grew in their hands in many directions. They easily secured the hearty co-operation of all organisations concerned directly or indirectly in the promotion of child welfare. The result is a display of a character and extent certainly never before attempted in New Zealand. It will be both a revelation and an education to everyone who visits the Brydone Hall this week. Speaking from the purely civic standpoint, the mayor was able to commend the exhibition as directing the attention of the young people towards such moral and educational ideals as will help towards good citizenship.
"There is nothing wrong with Dunedin," he affirmed, "if only the citizens of the future live and work on the right lines," and for this reason he attached value to the exhibition. Taking a rather wider field, Sir Thomas Mackenzie expressed the opinion that present-day education tended too much to the training of boys and girls for the professions to the neglect of the practical trades and industries on which the development and prosperity of the dominion primarily depend.
An unregistered barmaid
Henry Walter Winter (Mr Hay) was charged that, being the licensee of the Gladstone Hotel, he allowed Margaret Winter, who was not a registered barmaid, to serve in the bar.
Senior-sergeant Mathieson said that the defendant, when interviewed by Sergeant Taylor and Constable Dunlop, frankly admitted the offence and said that he did not know he was breaking the law.
Mr Hay said that the hotel was carried on by defendant and a partner. The barmaid was a sister of defendant’s partner and was a niece of defendant’s. Defendant was under a misconception. In answer to the Magistrate, counsel said that defendant’s niece was not now serving in the bar.
His Worship said the position was one which might quite easily arise. Defendant was fined 10s and costs (7s).
Coastal scenery under the hammer
A number of pictures, painted by local artist, Mr A.H. Dunstan, who was for 12 years instructor at the Dunedin School of Art, will be sold by auction by Messrs James Samson and Co. on Thursday.
— ODT 30.10.1923
