Gift Of White Ensign To Mairehau School

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30313, 13 December 1963, Page 21

Gift Of White Ensign To Mairehau School

A White Ensign was presented to toe headmaster of the Mairehau High School 'Mr A. B. Ryani and to the school at toe annual prizegiving ceremony. It was presented by the guest speaker, Captain J. N. Allan. Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve, the former commander of the Canterbury division of the reserve. Captain Allan said the ensign was from a tank-landing craft commanded during the Second World War by a fellow officer in toe R.N.Z.N.VH. The vessel was the biggest commanded during toe war by a New Zealand naval reserve officer. He said he was giving toe flag as a reminder to toe staff and pupils of the school that the school's first headmaster served durmg the war in a service which had exercised more influence over world affairs than any other since

the days of toe Roman ' legions. The presentation was coms pletely unheralded, and took • all by surprise. Mr Ryan expressed his thanks, and said he did not think he had ever experienced a moment like it before. “I find it most difficult to express by appreciation and that of toe school for this most unusual and higbly- ; valued gift," he said. “The ■ school will always treasure tois flag and make sure its honour remains untarnished." Before he presented toe ensign Captain Allan addressed toe school and toe guests. As a pupil he had sat—and ; fidgeted—through 13 prizegiving ceremonies, he said, ; “. - . while some dear old cup of tea addressed us. “So you have my profound sympathy.” However, it did people good to have to make a sacrifice occasionally and carry out some ceremonial. He told the pupils they should keep reminding themselves how fortunate they were to be part of toe British Commonwealth. Nothing was worth while if it was gained easily, and many had suffered and many had died to make it possible for New Zealanders to enjoy their present way of life. He was sick and tired of all toe “bunkum, balderdash and claptrap” spoken about discipline and toe young. He was against the theory that one must not frustrate toe young—' ‘The best psychiatrist is a short length of cane applied in the right spot at toe right time.” But. he said, one could not discipline others unless one could discipline oneself.