AFFORESTATION SHIELD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 August 1924, Page 10

AFFORESTATION SHIELD.

PRESENTATION AT OHANGAI. GOOD WORK RECOGNISED. The Ohangai Hall was packed to. the doors on \\ ednesday night, when a conceit and dance, combined with the function arranged in connection with the presentation of the Schools Afforestation Shield was held. The nrst part of the programme was contributed by the school children and the Ohangai .vlaoris. and reflected great credit on the performers as well as those who were reasponsible for their training. The Maori liakas in particular were well leceived. The remainder of the concert programme was contributed oy members of the Hawera Scottish Society, and a lew other visitors, all oi whom received encores. Those who contributed to this part of the programme were: Miss F. Jenkins and M essrs Simpson, G. Reid, 1.. A. Taylor and \V. Watts, Airs L. A. Taylor capably filling the position of pianist.

At the conclusion cf the concert programme the chairman, Afr Keegan, announced that the presentation of the afforestation shield would follow, but first of all he wished to apologise for the absence of ‘a representative of the firm of Ales,sis Geo. Syme and Co., the firm which had donated the shield, and for the absence of the senior agricultural instructor, Air Ridling, who had asked him to congratulate the school on their win. Me then called upon Mr A. Lees, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, to speak. Air Bees, in thanking the committee for their invitation, said that apart from the matter of presenting the shield, it was, worth while being present to he able to enjoy the excellent' concert. He wished to specially compliment the children on the very fine wav in which they had rendered their items. It certainly showed that they responded well to the training of their teachers. However, another reason why he was pleased to he present was to have the opportunity, on behalf of the Education Board, cf complimenting the Ohangai School, teachers and scholars on the very efficient progress that had been shown at their school. There were 1.60 schools in the Taranaki Education Uoaid’s district, and although he had not yet visited them all, he knew that in many of them everything did not run as smoothly as it did at Ohangai. Perhaps the teachers were doing theii very best to bring the children up to a high standard of efficiency, but they did not get the backiiig : from the sc-hool committees that they should. On the other hand, he also found that in some cases the school committees, gave the necessary hacking, but .the teachers failed to- carry out their part. However, he was pleased to say that in the* majority of schools, the school committee, the teachers, the parents and the scholars all co-operated in bringing; the school up to a high standard of efficiency. Ohangai was in this class.

Conti iiuing, Mr Lees referred to. the work of the inspectors; <lt was only by examining the children that they, were able to find out wliat work was being carried out by the teachers. The inspectors visited the various schools, and if the work was not up to the required standard they did not fail to report it to the Board and point out just where the weaknesses were. T'host repoTts, of course, were always confidential, but he did not think lie- would be breaking faith if; he said that as fat as the Ohangai School was concerned the reports had always been of .the best. Me wished to again compliment the school on the very efficient .progress .shown. > The speaker next referred to the good work being done by the senior agricultural instructor, Mr Ridling, whom.lie described as a painstaking and enthusiastic officer ol great organising ability. Mr' Ridling had recently written u. book instructing teachers in school agriculture, and this book was very highly thought of, ; by the men at the head of the Department. Air Lees also mentioned that Air Ridling was very ably assisted in his work by Messrs Syme and Dean, the other two agricultural instructors. Until quite recently there were only the two instructors in Taranaki —Messrs Ridling and Syme, but the Hon. Mr Parr had told him that the Department was sc pleased with the work that was being done in Taranaki that he had no hesitation in appointing another inspector.

Air Lees said he particularly wanted to mention the good work being clone by Air R. S. Syme. on whose shoulders fell a great deal of the organising of Lhe nature study, agricultureal and afforestation work in Taranaki, it was due to tlur extra push which Mr Svme had given the afforestation competition that it had been the success that it had. It was also due to Air Syme’; efforts that Messrs George S.vme amCo. had been prompted to donate the shield. Mr Bees said he was a helievoi in prk.es. and added that it was just the fact of something to work for that gave the extra impetus which made I'm success. Mr Bees next referred to the valuable infoi inntiou to lie obtained hv tin .-hiklren entering in the competition. They learned all about, the trees they .vere raising, and in view ol the fact that the competition was of such great educational value, he believed it wouk: develop as time vvenc on. Afforestation was getting to he an important question in New Zealand, and they cculc not hut regret the destruction of sc many’ of our native trees. New Zealanders weie now waking up to tlu ia't that they must plant more tree; and yet more tiers to make up for the nu’.ive limber that they were losing. Also Tanuiaki people knew the value ol good slre-ltcr, and this aspect ol tin piestion opened up another branch oi nee planting. The schools hud entereo ■ lit, the affojcstatiou competition very nithuiastically, and their work bar c-een of a very high standard. He uopeu it would not be the last occasion on which the name'of the Ohangai

icl'ool would appear on the shield. .Mi Lce.< then presented the head teachei Mis Sangster. with the shield, stating that the work at the show had been ; distinct credit to herself and her pupils. Throe hearty cheers for .Mrs Sangster and the singing of “For She's a Jolly vjoed Fellow" followed. Mr Ci. H. Buckeridge said lie believed that one of the best ways of educating the parents in .any new question was through their children, .uni that was one oi the reasons why he had brought before the novice of the Farmers' Fniou the hoys’ and girls' club movement. Continuing. Mr Buckeridge spoke at length mi die good work being do lie by that movement. He mentioned a number of phenomenal root crops grown by the children competing in the boys’ and and girls’ club competitions. Mr Glasson. of the Agriculture Department, who- has been associated with the hoys’ and girls’ club movement in Taranaki since its inception, also spoke. He said he had now eoine to regard the work which the running of the competitions necessitated as part of his official duties, and a part in which he was intensely interested. He considered the boys’ and girls’ agricultural

club movement to be one that would be productive of very much good to the country. Mr Glasson further mentioned that he had been vetv disappointed ; n not being able to come to Ohangai this year to assist in the judging of the Ohangai children’s plots. However, while, he was on the subject, he would like to point out that during the past two seasons the Ohangai children .had gone back a little in their hoys’, and girls’ dub work. Nevertheless, he hoped that next year they would win back somsi of their lost laurels. The chairman, in acknowledging receipt. of the shield on behalf of Mrs Sa.ngst.er. said that all concerned had worked hard to retain it. , Mr Lees, on behalf of the Board, said he had much Measure'in granting the children a holiday on the following dav. This concluded the speeches, and after a. tasty supper had been handed round,, the floor was cleared for dancing.