ANNUAL DINNER.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 3

ANNUAL DINNER.

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION. SOUTH CANTERBURY BRANCH. Mr S. T. Fitch presided over a gathering of 27 eld boys and guests at the annual dinner of the Christchurch High School Old Boys' in South Canterbury, which was held in the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru. After the loyal toast had been honoured, those present stood in memory of Mr A. O. Merton, a master at the school for 37 years, who died recently. In proposJng the toast* of "The School," Mr Fitch stated that the attendance of old boys at the dinner emphasised the interest which they all had in the old school. Its spirit and traditions were being carried on to-day as in the past, both in the classroom and on the playing fields. Mr W. D. Campbell replied on behalf of the headmaster, Mr G. J. Lancaster. To be the head of a large secondary school was no sinecure, he said, and the increasing calls on his time had made it impossible for Mr Lancaster to attend. Nevertheless, on the next occasion he hoped that the "head" himself would be present to tell those old boys some of the more current affairs of the school. Mr C. S. Hammond proposed the toast of "The Parent Body." He was glad that Mr A. M. Hollander, president of the association, had been able to come from Christchurch, and he could assure him that the local branch would assist in every way possible to further the aims of the association. Those in South Canterbury extended to Mr Hollander and his executive best wishes for a happy term of office.

Work of the Association. In replying, Mr Hollander said that he was very proud to represent the association that evening—an association which was at present a very happy, though large, family. It was their endcavour to hold the old boys of the school together, and also to maintain an interest in the school. It had often been said that the boys at secondary schools were not up to the standard of former years, but this was wrong, as the achievements of the boys to-day compared with the best of the past. In referring to Mr Lancaster, and in reply to an earlier speaker's remarks, he said he thought that the duties of a headmaster, especially of a school of 730 boys, was a tremendous one. The position demanded that he should take an equal interest in the endless activities which occupied the secondary school boys' interests in these modern times. Referring to the present day problems of employment, the speaker said the association endeavoured to place in employment, boys leaving school—or old boys who were also unemployed. In this way an old boys' association could take some concrete action in the welfare of those connected with it.

Traditions of the School. The toast of "Kindred Associations" was proposed by Mr G. R. Park, who welcomed representatives of their old protagonists, Christ's College, and Timaru Boys' High School. Mr Park said he thought that the traditions of one's school were best kept by the endeavour of old boys to send their own sons to the school they had been to, but apart from this any and every secondary school in New Zealand was a worthy one In which to mould the rising generation's character. It was interesting to note that in 1882 Christchurch Boys' High School first played Timaru Boys' High School at Rugby (won by Christchurch); but it was not until 1892 that the time-honoured struggles with Christ's College had commenced, which match was now the school "Colours Match." The toast was responded to by Mr E. D. Unwin (Christ's College Old Boys' Association), and Mr A. J. Allport (Timaru High School Old Boys' Association). Mr C. E. Kerr proposed the health of the president, and the gathering closed with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."