BRITISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25940, 5 September 1945, Page 3

BRITISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ANNUAL MEETING OF OTAGO CLUB The annual dinner followed by the annual meeting of the British Public (schools Club oi Outgo was held last week ,n the City Hotel, when there were present Dr W. J. Mullin (King Edward's, Birmingnam), president, in the chair, Dr J. B. Dawson (King Edward’s, Birmingham), Messrs E, B. Eastgate (Felsted), A. Eccles (Biundeil’s), G. C. Hayhurst (Beys School, CamD.iage), W. D. jenKin (Dutwich), Dr Carmali-jones (Uppingham), Captain J. fi. Morris (King’s College School, Wimbledon), Messrs H. de C. McArthur (Christ's Hospital), J. (Sutherland Ross, T. C. Ross, and W. A. Ross (all of Highgate), Dr Russell Ritchie (Borette), Messrs R. White C’Wrekin”), and E. Wood, honorary secretary and treasurer (Dulwich). An apology was 1 received from Mr G. R. Riteh.e (Borette), who was in the North island. The guest of the evenin'* was Mr W. Downie (Stewart. Alter the toast of “ His Majesty the King,” proposed by the president, all stood ,n silence in memory of Mr J. G. Paterson, late president (Watsons’ School, Edinbu.gh), and Mr W. J. Morrell, late vicepresident (Blundell’s), both having passed away dur.ng the year. The next toast, " In Pium Memoriam,” was proposed by Mr Eccles, and was followed by “ Our Victorious Forces," proposed by Mr Jenkin and responded to by Captain Morris, while the health of the guest was cordially honoured on the motion of the president. Mr Stewart, himself a member of one of the best-known public schools of the Dominion, the Otago Boys’ High School, after expressing the honour he felt in being the guest of the evening, added that all might well be proud of our public schools, and proceeded to give a most interesting review of their history, especially during the last 50 years. He pointed out that the foi tunes made in trade by the middle classes had enabled them to send their boys to British public schools, formerly largely occupied by the upper and aristocratic classes. At the same time, it should not' be forgotten that the dominant powers In the army, navy and civ 1 service, at least up to a few years ago, largely came from the upper and aristocratic classes, boys raised in our great public schools, which, while they did not make the entrance to such allimportant departments their special aim, yet gave that all-round moral and physical training that fitted the boys for the great responsibilities of Empire. Naturally the question arose whether the change in the personnel of those attending the schools would affect this former striking result in the character of those trained there, and at present this was a difficult question to decide. Still, speaking gener"Uy. Mr Stewart expressed the hope that the public schools would continue to turn out bovs worthy of the great traditions of the ‘past, and able thus to take their place in guiding the affairs of the Empire. A hearty vote of thanks to the speaker was passed amid applause. The treasurer then read the audited balance sheet, showing the club to be in a good financial position. _ The president next proposed Mr T.C. Ross as the incoming president. The motion was seconded by Mr Jenkin and carried. Mr Ross, in returning thanks, proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring president. , , _ On the motion of Mr Sutherland Ross, seconded by Dr Ritchie, Mr Eastgate was appointed vice-president, and on the motion of Mr White, Messrs Eastgate and McArthur were appointed members of the committee, in addition to the president and secretary, who are members ex officio. . Dr Dawson proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Wood, the secretary and treasurer, pointing out that he had taken a full share in the success of the club since its inception, and also a hearty vote of thanks to the auditor, Mr Jenkin. Both proposals were cordially endorsed. The secretary reported that he had written to Sir Patrick Duff (Blundells School), the new British High Commissioner in New Zealand, inviting him to lunch with the club when he visits Dunedin. A reply had been received that in view of his very short stay on his first visit it would be impossible then for him to accept the invitation, but he trusted that he might have the pleasure at a later date. A general discussion followed as to the securing of additional members, and the committee was asked to go fully into the question and report to the next monthly luncheon of the club in October.