FORTY YEARS' SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 121, 23 May 1914, Page 9

FORTY YEARS' SERVICE

MR. ROBERT LEE HONOURED Forty years ago Mr. Robert Lee was appointed the first inspector of schools in th© Wellington Education District. Yesterday ho relinquished the position of chairman of the Education Board, though hits resigna-tion will not take effect until the end of July. After tho ordinary business of tho board had been transacted yesterday, members, together with the executive etaff, made a presentation to Mr. Lee. It took the form of an illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns. In the ab»ence of Sit Walter Buchanan, senior member of the board, the presentation was made by Mr". A. W. Hogg. "It gives me pleasure to think thafc this duty has devolved uponme," said Mr. Hogg^ "although at the same time the occasion is tinged with deep regret — regret as losing the services of a. gentleman so devoted to the cause of education. . . . All those who have known Mr. Lee remember him for his kind personality, and for the good he has always Seen anxious to do as far as education and many other masters are concerned." Mr. Lee's popularity throughout the province had never diminished. It had always grown. Both as an inspector and ab chairman of the board he had always been unbiased in his dealings, and it had always been his aim to keep the educational system free from anything of a pernicious character. In him they had a. Urong supporter of the present non-eec-tarian system. Mr. Lee had done a great deal of good in settling various grievances, and in such matteis had had the valuable assistance of the Chief Inspector (Mr. T. R. Fleming). Tho finances of the board were never before so sound, and this reflected credit on the retiring chairman and the secretary (Mr. Stewart). Mr. Lee had won tho respect of all settlers, teachers, and of tho board's staff, besides that of members of the board, who held him in high esteem. Mr. Hogg then read the following address:— • "We, the members and administrative staff of the Wellington Education Board, heard with the deepest regret that it is your intention to sever your official connection with the board. Your career as inspector and secretary, chief inspector^ membar of the board, and, finally, chairman, is unique in the educational history of the Dominion. Forty years ago, when you first took control" or this district, nothing that could be called an education system existed. There was no syllabus*; tho teachers with few exceptions were uiicertificated and untrained ; of apparatus there was practically noue, ancf the buildings were, for the most part, of the crudest description. The admirable system of public instruction which, in these adverse circumstances, you established and directed is a monument both to your scholarly attainment, and to your administrative ability. But the possession of distinguished professional qualifications was by no means all that was required of you. The strenuous days of early colonisation, tho bridgeless and often roadless districts, which in the course of your arduous itineraries you had to traverse, made demands on you that only the possession of an exceptional physique enabled you to meet. To-day, when you vacate tho chair for the last time, over 170 well equipped primary and district high schools, with upward of 18,000 children in attendance, have taken the place of the 50 scantily attended and poorly staffed schools of forty years ago. Finances have been raised from a condition of extreme depression and placed on a thoroughly sound footing, and in general efficiency tho district is now second to none in tho Dominion. In all this progress and " improvement your sound judgment and wise direction have been conspicuous factors. Your control from the chair has always been characterised by unfailing courtesy and scrupulous fairness, and, in their continuous re-election -of you to that responsible position, your colleagueß only showed that proper appreciation of your sterling worth which is felt by the district at large. In conclusion we, not only for ourselves, but on the part also of the local committees and the teach' ers of this district, wish you from the bottom of our hearts every happiness and good fortune in your proposccf visit to tho Old Country— a safe return, and a prolonged period of that leisure and ease to which your unremitting and sue cessf ul labours in the great cause of education so justly entitle you." Mr. T. R. Fleming, who spoke on behalf of the stall', said ho fully endorsed all that Mr. Hogg had said, and all that was stated in the address. On rising to reply, Mr. Leo was greeted with applause. He said he felt quite overpowered as a result of all that had been said regarding him. It was not altogether his fault that education in the Wellington District had been placed on such a sound footing. At the same time it was gratifying for him to think that he had »een of some use and that his services, enthusiastically given, had been fully appreciated. H& had been for 70 years connected with school work and that, he thought, was "rather a record." The then related personal history, add included many 'anecdotes, recalling tho periods when, as pioneer inspector, he had had to "rough" it. He concluded by thanking all for tho gifts. He felt that he was coming near to Die end of his lease of life, but when ho returned from Home he hoped to still be able to lake a keen interest in educational matters. Cheers were given for Mr. Lee, and those present sang "For lie's a Jolly I Good Fellow .."