TECHNICAL COLLEGE JUBILEE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 65, 10 December 1936, Page 12

TECHNICAL COLLEGE JUBILEE

Prefects’ Reunion Dinner SUCCESSFUL GATHERING An event unique in the annals of the Wellington Technical College, a prefects’ reunion dinner, was held last night as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of tlie institution. Mr. W. 11. Moure, one of the early prefects, presided, and so successfully did the gathering prove that, on tlie suggestion of Mr. J. 11. Howell, well-beloved former director of tlie college, it was decided to make it an annual event.

The dinner was made possible largely by the exertions of tlie Old Students’ Association, and during the evening Miss E. Laycock made an appeal to the prefects, tlie chosen school leaders of their day and generation, to support the association in its efforts to create good fellowship and to foster the traditions of the college. The toast of "Education” was proposed by Mrs. Gilbert Clark (nee Jean Burgess), who referred to the difficult times education was passing through because of changing conditions. Not more education, but better education was what should be aimed at. The present jubilee was a wonderful occasion, but its effectiveness would be wasted if traditions were not built up. The college trained its pupils not for work, not for earning a living, but to live. Could the college train its pupils to fill the leisure’which had been given to them? Undoubtedly it could, and (that training was not confined to the art 'department. Was the college training them to be rebels to question accepted things and to discard them when found to be wrong? Only in that manner could tradition be built up. Replying, Mr. L. Cheyne said that the college had been particularly indebted to Mr. J. H. Howell for not only looking after the scholastic side, but introducing athletics into the school. A good mind could not function properly in an unsound body, and by attention to both physical and mental activity the college was turning out well-balanced students. Organisers Congratulated. Proposing the toast of “The College,” Hr. L. Jones congratulated the organisers of the jubilee on the success of their efforts. The present dinner which was proving so successful should not be allowed to die, but should be made an annual event. Briefly reviewing the history of the college from its first difficult days up to the present time, Mr. Jones paid a tribute to the work of the late Mr. W. 11. Bennett and Mr. Howell, due to whosd efforts the college so largely owed its present pre-eminence. Mr. W. Scollay, who responded, said that to reply adequately one had to speak with a compound personality—the principal, the staff, even th every buildings had their separate influences, but taken together they formed one great personality, and that personality was the very embodiment of service. On behalf of the college, Mr. Scollay extended to all the ex-prefects a very he.arty welcome. The toast of “The Principals aud Staff” was proposed by Mr. A. Meachen, who referred to the affection and esteem with which the principals and staff had always been held. To the exstudents, they represented everything, and though tradition had not always been with the college, with Mr. Howell’s .advent tradition had begun and was gradually being built up. They all loved Mr. Howell, and none who came under his influence could resist his appeal. Mr. Ridling, Mr. Howell’s successor, was worthily carrying on the work of his predecessors, and the hope of the ex-students was that he would not impair his health by working too hard. >

Mr. C. Bonner responded and the name of Mr, J. H. Howell was also coupled with the toast. The present dinner was the greatest event of his public life, Mr. Howell said. He had never heard of any other school which could assemble boy and girl prefects in such large numbers. Together, they had in part shared the work of trying to build up the life and traditions of tlie school, and he- felt for them a greater fellowship than for any other body. “I have never amassed material wealth,” Mr. Howell added, “but there is no one in Wellington who is richer than I am, ricli in the affections of my old boys and girls. Ido hope this will be an annual event and that you will give me the privilege of meeting you once a year.” Other toasts honoured were “The Old Students” (proposed by Mr. O. McMahon and responded to by Miss E. Laycock), “Ourselves” (Mr. E. Lander—Mr. L. Palmer). At the conclusion of the dinner, the prefects inspected tlie retrospective exhibition and later attended a dance in the college library.

EXHIBITION AND CONCERT

Throughout the day the restrospective exhibition at the Wellington Technical College was thronged with visitors. who walked through the various rooms examining with interest the work of past and present students in the art, woodwork and engineering departments. The examples of cabinetwork, in particular, came in for warm commendation.

The second presentation of the jubilee musical play “Maid of the Mill’’ found the entire cast in excellent spirits and the large audience was delighted with the combination of Schubert’s music, beautiful scenery and costumes, the young people entering into the spirit of the play to the fullest degree.