OPEN AIR SCHOOL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 May 1928, Page 5

OPEN AIR SCHOOL

FOR INFANTS OF HAWERA.

OPENING CEREMONY.

A REMARKABLE BUILDING,

It was altogether a function fully worthy of the occasion when, before a gathering 'strongly representative of tiie town and 'district and indeed of the whole province, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Miniter for Lands, performed the official opening ceremony of the new open air school for infants which was completed some time ago and has .'been in daily occupation for nearly three months. The occasion was historic in that it marked the final act in a big effort made by the enthusiastic, members of the Hawera iSchool Committee, directed by their chairman. (Mr. J. W. Harding) and Dr. Thomson. It has been a triumph for them all and not only for them, but for the Taranaki Education Board which under its chairman (Mr. S. Or. iSmith), has shown a fine broad spirit of endeavour for the good of the tvhole .community. It Yvas also a triumph to the board’s able architect, the fruit of whose, brains and ability has been the building, which is unique in the history of educational effort in the Dominion.

A flag-decorated dais in front of the building had been erected and on the platform tvith the Minister -were Mr. H. G. Dickie, ALP., Mr. 6. G. Smith (chairman of the board), the Mayor and Mrs. Pacey, Mr. J. W. Harding (chairman of the school committee), and Mrs. Harding, Messrs. Dempsey and A. Lees (members of the board), and Mrs. Lees, Mr. R. -S. Sage (chairman of the High School Board), Mr. N. R. McKenzie (senior inspector), Mr. F. A. Bates (head master), Mr. C. 11. Moore (architect). Apologies were received from Hon. R. A. Wright, Messrs J. B. Murdoch, P. J. White, H. J. Eaves.

The Mayor (Mr. E. A. Pacey) said he had a pleasant duty to perform, in welcoming the Minister on his coming fro illawcra to open the new school. This, lie said, was somewhat out of the ordinary and actually unique in New Zealand. It was the 'design of Mr. Moore, architect to the Taranaki Board and carried out by board workmen. He- recalled the visit of Hon. R. A. Wright to Hawera when he found the old school needed renovating from top to bottom. Mr. Wright had been impressed with the ; 'idea of building new schools in a less lasting material than concrete and he considered it a good idea. The present new school, with care and attention, should easily last for thirty years. This, the Mayor said, was a school epoch for Hawera, followed fittingly on the jubilee of last year. He had pleasure in introducing the minister and in giving him a most hearty welcome to the town. Air. Dickie said it was a pleasure to join in the ceremony of opening the new school. ITe had paid a visit to Fendalton and found that school was radically different. It was a credit to the Taranaki Board that it had evolved, through its architect, a design unique in the history of the movement for open air schools, the lighting from the top through the veta glass being one of the latest and most health-giv-ing ideas in architecture. He hoped the children and the people would 'have pride in their school and look after the grounds and their beautifying in the future. He impressed on the children that their schooling was only the foundation on which they built for their future life * and that great opportunities were presented to them after leaving, when they had to use the early training to solve the after problems. He joined in the welcome i.o the Minister.

Air. S. G. Smith, in acknowledging the welcome, thanked the 'Mayor for his kindly 1 references to the hoard’s architect, whose work was a distinct departure from anything previously attempted in New Zealand. Sunlight and ventilation are most serious considerations and after full information had been obtained, the hoard decided unanimously to ‘adopt its architect’s idea. This was confirmed by the board’s inspector, Mr. McKenzie, who had travelled to other parts of New Zealand and to America, and he said it was the nearest to perfection he had seen, giving the maximum of air, and a room with an always fresh atmosphere. He considered the board had. been wise in following the design. Ho was pleased to be present, and to take part, in the ceremony and to note the solid progress -made. He assured Hawera people that the board was keenly interested in the town and district, and he hoped parents would all take an interest in the school and send their children there. He had had wide experience of the public schools and in school committees and strongly supported the combination of boads and committees, which by being in personal touch, were enabled tcT press forward any claims made. In conclusion he said it was a real red letter day for the district and was sure that the school would be copied by other parts of the Dominion.

TIIE MINISTER ’-S SPEECH. Hon. A. D. McLeod said it was a pleasure once more to meet the people of Unworn and he would first apologise for the unavoidable absence of the Minister of Education. He had himself little to do with that work and beyond hearing it discussed at Cabinet table, but ho yielded to no one in the people of the country in the -cause of education. 'He had often asked for buildings in the Wairarapa and after hearing the list of works done in Hawera, felt sure that that was where the money had been going and why he could get nothing for his own district. He considered that Hawera would surely want nothing for fifteen years.

The whole question of primary education should be the grave concern of the whole of the people who should take a close and keen interest in it, not only in its financial side, but also in seeing that results were secured commensurate with all that was done and spent in the Dominion. He believed they got a good return for the money spent. He said that in his boyhood ho had never been closer than thirty miles to n school and therefore had not the advantage of the state service. He believed their systems of examinations was the ideal for the Dominion and that the '.education boards and staffs were 'ft remarkably fine body of men who worked with the purpose of the better -care of the children placed in their hands. Referring to the school,* he said that he knew little about it. but it looked good. It was really a matter for experts. He had been much against the concrete building in these days when ideas changed st> rapidly. In putting up schools to meet the real requirements of the time the Government was doing

the right thing. ■ Ho thanked the authorities for asking him to speak at the official opening and he hoped that the full -desires of the people of Taranaki Yvould be gratified. He had, he said, the greatest pleasure in formally declaring the school open for the children. .

Mr. J. W. Harding, chairman of the committee, expressed the thanks of all to the Minister, to Mr. Dickie and the education board for their efforts on behalf of the toivn. lie said that with, out them, nothing ivould have been achieved and therefore they deserved hearty congratulations. He asked the Minister to convey to the Hon. Air. Wright the thanks of the district for his efforts on behalf of the community. As chairman of the committee he kneYv all that had been done and knew that there was nothing in New Plymouth Yvhich they had not in Hawera, showing that the board members were not parochial in their attitude. He hoped now the school was built all the people would co-operate in laying out the grounds an ( | as a help to the scheme a collection was to be taken up, which would bear a subsidy of £1 for £l. Hearty cheers were given for the Minister before he left to receive deputations. A dainty afternoon tea. was served bj- the ivi-v-es of the -committee men, assisted by the teachers. As a welcome to the Alinisterial teresting programme including Party, the school band played an in- “ Shepherd’s Pipe,” “Old Soldier,” “Our Boys,” and “The Runatvays.” During afternoon tea a. most enjoyable programme was given by the school orchestra, whieh played the following items: Overture, “Spirit of the Winds”; waltzes, “White Heather,” and “Evening Breezes”; marches, “Baron Afunchaiesen,” “Ole South Patrol,” and “Flying Ace,” ‘ ‘ Haymakers ’ Picnic. ” A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the ladies on the motion of the Alinister and so a notable occasion concluded.