SECONDARY SCHOOLS VISITED

Evening Star, Issue 19518, 28 March 1927, Page 3

SECONDARY SCHOOLS VISITED

MINISTER OF EDUCATION’S TOUR'

A BUSY MORNING The Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A. Wright), accompanied by Mrs Wright, had a busy time this morning visiting the King Edward Technical College, Otago Boys’ High School, and Otago Girls’ High School, at all ol which he had an enthusiastic reception. In addition, the Minister received two deputations. TECHNICAL COLLEGE FUNCTION. The King Edward Technical College was visited first, and hero the Minister was received by the chairman of tho Board of Governors (Mr T. Scott), several members of the board, and the manager (Mr W. G. Aldridge). After inspecting several classrooms, Mr Wright addressed tho assembled pupils in Burt Hall, urging them to make the most of their school life and to pay attention to their studies while at school if they wore to succeed in after life. The Minister was loudly cheered before proceeding to tho Boys' High School, and Mr J. Horn, M.P., moveda hearty vote of thanks to him for his address, this being carried by acclamation. Cheers were also given for the manager and staff, Board of Governors and their wives, and Mr Horn, M.P., and for tho future success of the college. AT BOYS’ HIGH. At the Otago Boys’ High School the Minister was welcomed by the rector (Mr W. J. Morrell), the acting chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr. J. C. Stephens), the secretary (Mr C. R. M'Lcan), and members of tho hoard, the president of the Old Boys’ Association (Mr J. J. Mallard), and other re-

presentatives of the association. After inspecting tho school the Minister addressed the boys in the Assembly Hall. In introducing Mr Wright to the pupils of the school, the Rector referred to the magnificent record of the Otago Boys’ High School, which, he said, was one of the oldest in the dominion, being founded in 18P3. Its old boys had a record of which the present school was proud Among Mr Wright’s colleagues in the Cabinet were two old boys in Sir Francis Dillon Bell, who was an old dux of the school, and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart. Tho Hon. Mr Hislop, an ex-Minister of Education. I was an old boy, as also was the late 1 Sir John Salmond, judge of the Supreme Court, who, with Sir Francis

Bell, was one of their most distinguished old boys. Mr Justice Herdman and Mr Justice Reed were old hoys, and the school had representatives in tho Legislative Council There were few old boys of whom they were more proud than tho present Speaker nf the House (Sir C. E. Statham), and Mr T. K. Sidey was another of whom they were justly proud. He had taken a prominent part, in University life, and occupied the position of Chancellor of tho Otago University. There were a number ot old boys professors and inspectors of schools, and there wore many who had taken a leading part hi'the civil and military life of the country, including General Sir Alfred Robin and General Fulton. He felt proud that, thanks to the old boys of tho school and tho teachers, old boys bud won a good name for themselves in then performance of the ordinary duties ol their life, and their old boys bad always taken a prominent part in the civic and public‘life nf Dunedin and Otago Many had gone north to occupy responsible positions, and what he believed was that the boys of tho school plaved the game, not only on the playing fields, but in tho game of life. The school had a great heritage of which they were proud and to which they Imped to add ns the years passed on. He concluded by extending a welcome, not only to the Minister, but also to Mrs Wiight, who was accompanying him on this occasion. (Applause.)

Mr Wright returned thanks for tho cordial welcome that had been extended to him, and said that he felt the rector had been quite justified in referring to the proud record attained by old boys of the school, and tho Minister spoke particularly of the success of old boys such na Sir Francis Dillon Bell, Mr Downie Stewart, Sir Charles Statham. From what the rector had told him he gathered that the school already found its playing grounds to be insufficient, and ho knew that this must be the case. In the hours for recreation it was only right that the boys should have grounds on which to exercise themselves and for a time forget the serious studies of the school. 11 It was unfortunate that more ground was not obtained near the school at the beginning,” continued tho Minister.

“ There are no grounds available in juxtaposition to the school at present,” added the Minister, “ but it is well to hear this fact in mind when ,the site at Macandrew »cad for an additional school is being considered ” It would lie advisable to obtain sufficient grounds there at tho beginning. The number of public men who had been produced by tho school was what was to be expected of a school which bad a good band of teachers, said tho Minister, and it was possibb that among the boys present there might be a future Prime Minister of the dominion. (Applause.) There were a great many stages to bo passed through before a, man became a Cabinet Minister, however, and the speaker gave the boys some interesting and humorous details of a parliamentarian’s life. He believed that some, of tho boys present would take a prominent part in tho public life of tho country in the future, and if they did ns well as their predecessors mentioned hy the rector they would have nothing to be ashamed of. He had some idea of the hard studies a student had to pursue to attain the positions they aimed at; hut nothing in life was attained without effort, and there was nothing in lib r-o valuable to the individual as what ho had gained by his own effort. Those hoys who wore going to make their way in_ life would be those who were determined by tbeir industry, perseverance, and application to attain the object they had in view, and that was tho only wa.v to attain it. He hoped the. hoys would lie successful at school and would reach the height of ambition in this respect, and they could rest assured that when they went out to tho battle of life their training would stand them in good stead, tor there was always a place for the young man with a good education (Applause )

Mr Stephens thanked the Minister for his address, which, he said, was one of the best that had ever been delivered from that platform. On behalf of the Board of Governors he expressed their gratitude • to' the Minister for coming to Dunedin. _ (Applause.) The Minister was given three cheers that fairly shook .the building, and the boys treated him to a vigorous haka, which was renewed at Mr Stephens’s request, Mr Wright then called for cheers for the rector and staff and their wives, the Board of Governors, old boys, and concluded by asking for cheers for “mother and father, all of which.were given with a hearty will. OLD BOYS’ DEPUTATION. At the conclusion of his visit to the Boys’ High School the Minister received a private deputation from the Old Boys’ Association, which put before him a request that the legislation should be amended to enable the old boys to have direct representation on the Board of Governors of the school. The Minister appeared to view the request sympathetically, and said that he would place the matter before Cabinet, though if the old Boys were to bo represented it would be 'invidious if the

ex-pupils of the Girls’ High School were not also given representation on the hoard. GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL VISITED. “ There are some people who say it is a mistake to overeducato girls, but I believe girls should be educated as well as boys,” said Mr Wright in the course of his address to the pupils of the Girls’ High School, where he was received by the lady principal (Miss M. H. M. King). He said that he believed as much attention should be paid to the girls’ education as to the boys’, and be thought the Education Department and education, boards were not failing in that respect. Young women were taking an active part in all spheres of life, and he thought it would not be long before they were represented in Parliament. (Applause.) _ The Minister went on to speak along similar lines to his address at the Boys’ High School, and at the conclusion of his address he was given three rousing cheers, further cheers being exchanged as at the previous schools. The Minister concluded the morning’s tour by inspecting the site of the proposed new high school at Macanclrew road.-