EX-PUPILS MEET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 135, 9 June 1945, Page 9

EX-PUPILS MEET

CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL

The interest, shown in the Correspondence School Ex*-pupil3' Association Was evident during the past week, when 23 delegates from all parts of New Zealand, rebresenting 14 of the 18 branches of tlie association, gathered at Wallis House, Lowei. Hutt, for the first conference of its kind. The delegates included ali accountant, Clerical workers, a librarian, an ih-. terior decoratoiv a telephone operator, a teacher, a University student (she being one of a great min_ber._i.ow at-; tending university),-a commercial artist; and a number of Land Girls. . ■ . The conference, which occupied nearly three days, Was presided ovei 1 by Mr. E; J: We.rry, and thte convener of the association, Mi;. R. t). McKinley. It. was officially opened on* Tues*. day ■ mottling by Dr. A. G. headmaster of the Correspondence School, who said-that the presence of the delegates indicated the ehthusi^ asm of the 500 members of the .association.' He gave ah outline .of- the growth of the school over the pa,st 25 years—from a start with two teachers to the present staff of over 140 and a roll exceeding 4000 pupils—and remarked that it was a privilege to meet some of the ex-pupils, many of whom had started ih the. primers and were now attending university. ■ f Of approximately 100 remits ..dealt with, the main feature was the formation of a national executive- which will in time completely handle the association affairs. A. lengthy discussion took place on. the production of the association's own magazine, "The Budget," which" will be published early next year. Among the Social activities during the conference were a theatre "party, a Visit to the school, Which for some of the pupils was their first actual visit to their school, a Visit to the Government film studios at Miramar, and ,a tour of Parliament House.

The conference was eminently successful, attd it- is proposed to hold similar meetings every three years. The gatherihg also bought . about many friendships aniohg those who were formerly only postal schoolmates, and hopes were expressed of their being able to meet again in the near future.