GREY UNIFORMS

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1934, Page 10

GREY UNIFORMS

HIGH SCHOOL CHANGE NEW REGULATION IN FORCE. -PRINCIPAL PLEASED. The Whangarci High 'School reopened yesterday after the holidays with a change—a change from the blue uniform which the boys have worn ever since a set uniform was a necessity, to the grey outfit, which, not without a good deal of criticism, was sponsored by Mr. A. R. Ryder, the principal, who took charge of the school in 1932. Not long after his arrival, Mr. Ryder submitted to the Board of Governors his proposal for changing the uniform. His reasons for suggesting the-change, as mentioned at a meeting of the board 1 wore that, from the point of view of appearance, grey would provide as smart a uniform as the blue, and .would be more hygienic. Blue, also, attracted the heat much more than the grey, and the latter, ho thought, would provide a more comfortable uniform in the winter. A: distinctive uniform was necessary for a school the size of the Whangarei High School, Mr. Ryder considered, and many who had never been associated, with the school were wearing its uniform. With the grey that would hot be so likely to happen. “I never had any intention of thrusting this on the parents in a

hurry, or of placing tbe business community at a disadvantage,” Mr. Ryder, said at the meeting. “ These proposals have not been placed before you with the idea of causing pain or inconvenience or expense to anyone who has been connected with the school, but with the idea of improving matters at the institution.-’ ’ At its next meeting, the High School Board, by a majority of one vote, decided on the change in uniform, but ruled that tlto regulation was not to conic into force until the beginning of the first term in 1934. The new uniform comprises light grey shirt, dark grey shorts, grey socks with the school colours on the tops, u black full cap, with badge and school colours. The decision to change the .colours mot with a good deal of criticism in many quarters, and efforts were made, Avithout success, to have the decision reconsidered. Yesterday, the ocav rcgulatioh came into force, but, as it Avas understood all along that no pupil Avould require to obtain the ucav uniform until the old ones were Avoru out, the school is slightly “piebald” at present. Mr Ryder said this morning that a large percentage of the boys had arrived at school Avith the ugav uniform, and he Avas very pleased Avith the result. Some, of course, Avcre still Avearing the old blue, Avhile others Avore the grey shirts and blue shorts, which have not yet been relegated to the scrap-

bag. Mr Ryder thanked the parents for supporting him so well in the change, and said it fully answered the criticism which had been levelled at it.