FROM OVERSEAS

Southland Times, Issue 20661, 17 April 1929, Page 6

FROM OVERSEAS

E 1) EC A TION MINIST ER

VISITOR FROM NEW SOUTH

WALES TOUR OF SOUTHLAND A distinguished visitor, in the person of the Hon. D. 11. Drummond, Minister of Education in New South Wales, arrived in Southland by the Kingston express yesterday afternoon and inspected several schools in the Eastern District. The Southland League, in conjunction with the Education Board, arranged the itinerary of Mr Drummond’s visit', and a car was sent, to Gore to convey Mr and Mrs Drummond to Invercargill. Arrival at Gore. Mr and Mrs Drummond were met by Mr A. W. Jones (chairman of the Education Board), Mr E. C. Smith, and the Mayor of Gore (Mr D. McDougall) at Gore. The party proceeded by car to the-war memorial and walked from there through the recreation grounds and gardens to the public school. The headmaster, Mr J. McK. Miller, conducted the party through the agriculture plots, the cookery and woodwork classes, and the class rooms of the main building. Mr Drummond watched the pupils at drill and then, after Mr Jones had introduced Mr and Mrs Drummond to the assembled pupils, Mr Drummond said: “If someone was to blindfold me and turn me round three times and then tell me that I was addressing a school in New South Wales I could not deny it. There must be some reason for the pupils here and the pupils in my own country being so much alike. In the northern districts of New South Wales there arc not so many roses in the children’s cheeks, but on the higher tablelands the children are just the same as yourselves. That resemblance is something which is not just skin deep. Our fathers and mothers or our forefathers all came from the same land —from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The people who control Australia and New Zealand arc of the same blood, and I rejoice at that. I feel at home amongst you.” Mr Drummond concluded by telling of an incident concerning the rescuing of a swimmer from a shark and said: “That is the British spirit and you must uphold it by learning to do great things, not when there is a crowd present to cheer you, but when you are alone and possibly in danger. When a Britisher se.ts his heart to a thing he goes through with it no matter what happens. It doesn’t matter if you are not dux of the school; if you do the right thing at the right time your teachers and your fellow countrymen will be proud of you.” The pupils then gave three cheers for the visitors and in thanking them Mr Drummond said that they were more like Australian boys and girls than ever. At the High School. The party then proceeded to the Gore High School, where the rector, Mr J. Hunter, conducted them through the class rooms. The children were then assembled and Mr Drummond addressed them. Mr Drummond said that he had addressed boys and girls in many high schools, but that was the first time he had addressed all the pupils in a high school in New Zealand. After speaking to the pupils on lines similar to those at the primary school, Mr Drummond touched briefly on the early history of New Zealand and New South Wales as regards their having been under the same government. He advised them to keep the land as it was and grow up to honour the Empire and the flag, which stood for so much to British people. Mr E. C. Smith thanked Mr Drummond for his address, and the. pupils gave three cheers. The party then proceeded to the high school hostel where afternoon tea was served and the building inspected. Before the party left for Mat aura Mr McDougall, on behalf of the people of Gore, thanked the Minister for his visit and expressed the hope that they would see him back again. Mr Drummond said that his visit had been a pleasant one. He wished to thank them on behalf of himself and his wife and also on behalf of the Government of New South Wales of which he was a representative. A Tour Through the Country. Mr and Mrs Drummond and Mr Jones then proceeded to Mataura, where the school was inspected under the guidance of the headmaster, Mr E. H. Reward, and then their car was driven to Wyndham through the Tuturau district. Major 8. Rice and Mr 11. C. Romans (relieving headmaster) met the party at the schoolhouse and the building was inspected. Mr Drummond remarked that while the New Zealand schools were built to obtain light from the north and west, the Australian schools were lighted from the south and east. The journey was continued through South Wyndham, Glenham, Mataura Island, Seaward Downs and on to Kennington, where the car returned to the main road. Both Mr and Mrs Drummond expressed pleasure at the greenness of the fields and the excellence of the grass seen in the country visited. Invercargill was reached at 7 p.m.