WAITAKI OLD BOYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26228, 12 August 1946, Page 7

WAITAKI OLD BOYS

DOMINION ANNUAL MEETING Over 70 old boys from all parts of the South Island attended the annual meeting of the Waitakl High School Old Boys’ Association, held in the Coquet Street Hall on Saturday night. Mr A. W. Grant (Dominion president) presided. Milner Memorial Considerable discussion was given to the Milner Memorial, and various suggestions of levies or direct contributions were put forward by delegates. Mr R. W. Hill (Christchurch) said members should have had a lead from the Executive Council regarding the matter. He did not blame the council, but the branches, for not instructing their delegates as to what amount they required. Mr Grant said that suggestions for the .memorial had been brought forward and the majority of branches had favoured a scholarship and suggested that a canvasser be appointed. That was done, but the results of the canvass were disappointing and the method dropped. The matter had been referred back to the branches and the South Otago branch was the only one to make a move. Dunedin, Christchurch, and Oamaru branches, and the boys at the school, had made some contribution. The following motion was passed, on the motion of Mr Hili: “ That the Executive Council at its lirst meeting after the annual meeting, decide upon the capital sum which it requires to be raised to provide sufficient income to enable an. economical contribution commensurate with that which is being offered by the Board of Governors.” Mr Grant intimated that the sum required was £3OOO, and the branches had already been advised. The annual report and balance sheet which were adopted, showed credit balances as follows: Association, £46 2s sd; Milner Memorial, £326 11s Id; McCulloch Memorial, £lO3 11s Id; Life Membership Trust Fund, £402 4s 7d; accumulated balances from branch balance sheets, £2ll 6s 9d. Adoption of New Rules The new rules of the association, which have been under consideration for some years, were approved subject to alterations regarding the subscription and capitation fees. The subscription was increased to 10s per year wtihout the magazine subscription, and the capitation fee was fixed at 5s per member. War Memorial Five branches favoured a war memorial to be embodied in the present Hall of Memories. The suggestion of a memorial library had been considered, but members were of the opinion that such a venture was not advisable at the present time. Mr Grant reminded members that the Hall of Memories was not a memorial to those who gave their lives in the 1914-18 war, but for all old boys who had given their lives on active service for their country. Ml Bell (Christchurch) said that the general >idea was to provide more room in the hall, and he Suggested that funds should be raised, and then the matter of alterations or additions considered. Mr Bell’s motion, which was seconded by Mr Garden (Dunedin)—” That immediate steps be taken to raise funds 'for expenditure on a memorial associated with the Hall of Memories ” was carried unanimously. The executive, with power to co-opt those who were willing to work, was appointed a Memorial Committee. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, the rector (Mr J. T. Burrows); president, Mr A. W. Grant (Oamaru); vice-presidents—Mr S. A. Muirhead (Oamaru), Mr W. J. Baxter (Christchurch) and one to be elected from the Wellington district; secretary, Mr H. P. Kent; auditor, Mr A. C. Piper (subject to'consent). Social Hour A social hour followed when the visiting members were the guests of the Oamaru branch. Mr C. Zimmermann (president) presided, and during the evening made presentations to Mr J. A. Meldrum (a past president of the Oamaru branch), who was leaving Oamaru for Christchurch, and Mr T. L. Roberts, an original old boy of the school. Musical items were contributed by an orchestra conducted by Mr J. Macmillan.