LATE MR ANDREW LEES

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 28 September 1933, Page 8

LATE MR ANDREW LEES

SERVICES TO THE SCHOOL CHAIRMAN FOR 21 YEARS. PROMINENT EDUCATIONALIST. No history of (the Okaiawa School would bo complete without special reference to the work of the late Air Andrew Lees, who- had such a long and distinguished association with the work of education in Taranaki and specially with the Okaiawa School Committee. " His death last year was a great loss to the district and to the province. Air Lefts was a man of Wide sympathies' and took an interest in. many local affairs, but anything he took up he entered: wholeheartedly. In fact, that was a feature of liis work and a motto, as it were, of Ills life. •Mr Lees came to the district from .Southland thirty-five years ago to join Mir T. L. .Toll" in the dairy factory, and first he had four years at Normanby before settling at Okaiawa. Always interested in educational affairs, Air Lees took a part in the control of the school many years ago. He soon, became chairman of the committee and held that position for twenty-one years. When that period had elapsed he retired, considering that i.t wa's better some younger man should fake up the running. As a young man he had always a clear understanding of what was needed in educational affairs and his tenure o'f office was marked by liberal support of .the headmaster and staff and a keen and close interest in the youth of the district who welro under their charge. One institution specially on which Air Leeis looked with pride was the hostel for the lady teachers. As the school grew in size, more teachers were required, and board and lodging were needed for .them. Air Lees, with Air and Airs Innes, of the school staff, collaborated and hit upon the scheme of building a hostel near the school. It was a big undertaking, for fifties were abnormal aft d building was at the height df the boouu It wa's essential, however, that a way out should be found. Together they set up a scheme and _ the people responded nobly. Subscriptions came in and the building as it stands to-day was erect'ed and the teachers in need of board were accommodated. It has proved a boon of hardly estimable value .to the school’. lin fact, it may be .said that the school, could net have Lee ill carried’ on without it.. This scheme required a lot of organising and thought, and this small committee of three shouldered the whole responsibilitv Before very long the hostel wa/s free of debt and actually the property of the people. . If Air Lees had done nothing else for th'e school, his work would have been worth while, but he took a keen and lasting interest in the work of the school insicbe and out. Football and air games, agriculture and horticulture, all received his hearty support, and in this ■he strongly backed up the work of Mr limes, who was also an enthusiast. The result was the success achieved by the pupils in these various aspects of school lif e and work. Air Lees was also a strong supporter of the Okaiawa Football alnd Cricket Clubs, especially the former, atnd it was ( with great pride that ho saw the boys of the school graduate into the club fifteens aind in many cases beco.mle the stalwarts of the first fifteen), besides m .some cases provincial representatives and All Blacks.