WHANGAREI SCHOOL

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1927, Page 2

WHANGAREI SCHOOL

ALTERED BUILDINGS OPENED

I As an outcome of sustained effort iby the Whangarei School Committee, I the Education Board recently caused 5 certain alterations to bo made in the Whangarei school buildings which have been considerably remodelled. Yosterday, in consequence of a happy suggestion by members of the comi mittee, parents, staff and pupils assembled . outside the building, which i vas formally declared open by the j Mayor, Mr J. E. Holmes. 1 Mr A. H. Curtis, chairman of the j committee, declared that it was a > red-letter day for Whangarei to form--1 ally open the remodelled, and in a j sense, new school. He briefly outj lined the nature of the renovations which had been made, and was glad to say that as a result the building |was not nowadays an oven, as it had {been previously. Credit was due to members of the committee who had j worked to make the school better. I The improvement should be a help *in the big aim of getting the best of teachers for the North. Assistance from the Education Board had been secured only after a big fight. Mr Murdoch, w-hen in Parliament, had done his best for the committee but nothing had been received for a long time except promises. All that the board required to make it a thoroughly up-to-date school, rvas another class-room, which would be given 1 when there was an attendance of 500. If that were granted it would mean a separate class-room for every teacher. As chairman he could say that there had never been a committee which had worked harder for the children than that at present in office. Mr Curtis then asked Mr Palmer to unfurl the flag he had donated. Before doing so, Mr Palmer explained that about a year ago he had told Mr Curtis that he would donate

the flag if the chairman succeeded in getting the school reconstructed as had been done. He reminded the children that the flag was the em-

blom of the great: nation to which they belonged and he then unfurled

Mr Murdoch stated that it had taken a long time to get better conditions for the children and staff, but he was pleased that Mr Procter had carried out the work so well. It was unnecessary to repeat that it was realised that the well-being of the children was of the utmost importance to the future of the country. Mr Curtis should be known as a modern Oliver Twist, who had cleaned his plate of porridge and then asked for more. He considered that the Hon. E. A. Wright, Minister of Education, was a hard nut to crack, but there was nothing like trying, as Mr Curtis had done, to ensure success. Mr Murdoch then stated that all boys and girls in Whangarci knew what was due to the flag presented by Mr Palmer.

Mr C. F. Collins, headmaster, drew a vociferous affirmation when he inaugurated his remarks by ashing the children whether they had not heard him speak often enough. He stated that since the alterations had been made the rooms were cool and well ventilated. What was wanted mostly since -was regularity of attendance, because if that was secured the school would become one of grade seven, which was an aim ahead. 1

Mr Procter, the builder, believed that the alterations made filled all requirements for some time to come. The children and the staff were to be congratulated upon their behaviour during the time the hammering was going on. Tribute was also paid

to tlie sub-contractors, Messrs Wood for painting, and Wilson for plumbing. At that stage Mr Curtis apologised for the absence of Messrs W. Jones, M.P., J. D. McKenzie, member, and A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board.

The Mayor congratulated the committee upon having organised the function. Addressing the children, he stressed the fact that it was the emblem of the groat Empire to which they belonged, and it emphasised their share in a wonderful inheritance. His Worship considered that there was nothing associated with the gathering more telling than the gift made by Mr Palmer. The speaker then declared the remodelled building open. Opportunity was taken by the chairman to present Walter Chissell with a prize which he had won at the recent swimnuning sports, akd then followed cheers for the Mayor, Mr Palmer, the builders, the committee, and finally and vociferously for Mr Collins and the teachers. Subsequently the parents present were refreshed with afternoon tea served in one of the classrooms.