AN HONOURS BOARD

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 281, 22 August 1921, Page 5

AN HONOURS BOARD

UNVEILED AT NORTHLAND SCHOOL. An interesting, ceremony took place at the Northland State School on Saturday afternoon, when was unveiled an honours memorial 'board, which perpetuates the memory of those from tho district school who served in the Great War. All parts of the district were represented at the ceremony, and all present took an. intense interest, horn in most cases of personal acquaintance with those whose names appeared on the board. The chair was taken by Captain M'lndoo (chairman of tho School Committee), who explained briefly that the gathering had been arranged to do honour to the young men of the district—ex-pupils of the school—who had died or seen service in the Great War, which he hoped would be the end of international troubles for all time. . The schoolmaster (Mr. Polson) mentioned that the school at Northland had been in existence for only fifteen rears When tho call came twenty-six ex-pupils had enlisted, and of those twenty had returned, six had paid the full price of their loyalty and devotion to the Empire. The number might seem small as compared with other districts that might be mentioned, but what had. to be remembered was that every oy who had passed through the school, who was still in the district and was qualified to enlist, had enlisted. There had been others, of course, who through some disability could not be accepted. After the hymn ' O God, Our Help in Ages Past” had been sung, the Mayor, Mr R A .Wright, M.P-, was called upon to unveil tho board of honour. In doin- so, he said that it was purely a matter of indifference what the size> of the district was, or whether the numbers were small or great. Tho real issue was the spirit which had actuated tho roun- men, whose names appeared on the board, in volunteering for active service in their country s need. The fac that, as tho headmaster had testified, everv lad in the district who was qualified had volunteered, was, to his the best criticism that could be offere . No district in the world could do more The record was a credit to the whole district. Ho noticed that of ta who had volunteered from tho district six had fallen. To the parents and:relatives of those who had been called he extended his heartfelt sympathy The perhaps would always believe that they had suffered more than those whose sons had returned, or who had sen none of their loved ones away; but he lbeg o ea them to remember that had it not been for the great sacrifice of their sons a the sons of many thousands of other parents in the British they nil to-dav have been, little moro Government. They must all bear that fact in mind. Ho hoped that the time would never come when they would fl It those who had gone away to fight and die in defence of the Empire. (Ay P ThV'Mavor then released the flag that draped the board, and for a. few moments all resent stood in silence, nl anted a tree in honour of tho occa sion. Tea was served in the course the afternoon.