RECORD ROLL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1939, Page 15

RECORD ROLL

AND FINE SHOWING

HUTT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

1 A record school roll of 522, compris- ; ing 278 boys and 244 girls, was a high i light of the annual report—his four- [ teenth—submitted by Mr. J. N. Millard, ' principal of the Hutt Valley High ; School, at the breaking-up ceremony yesterday afternoon. . Mr. Millard also referred to the loss of three masters of the school, Messrs. J. G. McNaught, W. Mason, and Hawthorn, who have volunteered for war service. The increased roll meant the loss of the geography room, on which a lot of time had been spent, and which was one of the best in New Zealand. The use of the history room, too, was restricted by its being occupied by a class. The need for extra accommodation was urgent. The school had a very satisfactory record in examination work. As usual, the first week was taken up by physical training, lectures on health, and first aid, and allied subjects. Seven local doctors carried out a complete medical examination. One remarkable point revealed by these tests was the increase in height and weight shown in the various age groups. The school had also been successful on the playing fields. He outlined the showing of the various teams, and also the progress made in life-saving classes. During the year 21 pupils qualified tor the bronze medallion of the Royal Lifesaving Society. The aim of the school was competition for the many, not success for the few. The school band had reached a high standard, and the orchestra was shaping well. Fine arts had been studied closely, and the school had recently acquired £50 worth' of prints of works of famous artists. The fine arts club was very popular. During the year £ 140 had been spent on the library, and expansion in accommodation here was also necessary. Mr. D. A. Ewen ; chairman of the Board of Governors, congratulated the school on its fine examination record. The local doctors did fine work in devoting their time to the medical inspection of pupils. Other items worthy of praise were the record of the first and second fifteens, the first eleven, and the girls' tennis and basketball teams, the taking up of life-saving by so many of the pupils and the playing by the band of items composed by the bandmaster. The school was building a tradition of honour^ cleanliness, and decency. / The prizes and leaving awards were presented by Commodore H. E. Horan, Chief of the Naval Staff. During the ceremony, items given by the band, the orchestra, and the school choir were much appreciated. The Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, spoke on the meaning of Empire, and the need for New Zealand to build her own individual tradition on that foundation. ' I,

WAR ECONOMY

POOLING OF FOREIGN ASSETS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received December 16, 2 p.m.) RUGBY, December 15. T Xhe Anglo-French financial agreement is welcomed in the columns' of the "Economist." An article on the "Entente Financiere" declares: "It is, we may hope, the first step in a process of economic collaboration that will extent beyond details of finance or limitations of war economy." Discussing the consequences of the agreement reached between France and j Britain, it sums them up in a sentence: "The foreign assets of the two countries are to be pooled," and in this connection it calls attention to an interesting estimate made this week by the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, according to which gold, dollar balances, and marketable American securities belonging to tht United Kingdom and France approximate to 7,400,000,000 dollars, or £1,850,000,000.

J. Ellis and his helpers from the Art School, particularly Miss Briton-Smith, for carrying out the heavy task of modelling a contour map of New Zealand to illustrate educational development during the last 100 years. This was modelled in sections in the school, then taken to the Exhibition, where the pieces were put together. It has now been coloured and the positions of the schools have been indicated. The engineering students have still'to arrange lights to make- the spread of the "schools over the whole country clearer. "Mr. F. V. Ellis, who was seconded to undertake the lay-out, has performed a very difficult task with conspicuous ability. It is interesting also to note that a large portion of the modelling work in other courts at.the Exhibition has been carried out by old students from the Art School. Much creative work has been done by them." !