THE HIGH SCHOOLS

Southland Times, Issue 20897, 5 October 1929, Page 9

THE HIGH SCHOOLS

REUNION OF OLD BOYS. ACTIVITIES OF ASSOCIATION. A GROWING INSTITUTION.

Past pupils of the Southland Boys’ High School, from the earliest years of its history to last year's alumni, assembled in the A.C.M. tea rooms last night to renew old friendships and to review the work done by them, as the Old Boys’ Association, during the year. Over eighty members were present and, under the chairmanship of Mr S. M. Macalister, a lengthy toast list was honoured after the annual general meeting had been held and the officers for the ensuing years elected. Annual Report. > “More work has been done 'during the past year than ever before,” said Mr S. M. Macalister, in moving the adoption of the annual report (already published). The year had shown that the association would be able to do even more useful work in the future. The report of the football club showed a very gratifying position and the swimming club, which started only last season, was in a very flourishing state. The next matter was the formation of a cricket club, and it was expected that more support would be forthcoming this year than last. The gymnasium club also was doing great work and the executive felt very glad that the association had been able to foster these activities. The four dances held during the season had been very successful, socially and financially; one of them contributed to the entertainment of the visiting English Public Schoolboys. The association had assisted also in arranging the visit of his Honour Mr Justice Kennedy to the school. The Old Boys’ team had been successful in winning the Christopher Memorial Shield which had been given in memory of four Christophers who had been killed in the Great War. The late rector, Mr T. D. Pearce, had very generously donated fifteen dozen badges to the association, and the secretary now had plenty for sale. Mr Macalister urged every old boy to wear one. The executive had agreed to donate £75 towards the cost of constructing tennis courts at the school; that was an amenity that the Government did not provide, and the action of the association would help very much to strengthen the ties of present and old boys with the school. It was hoped that; shortly the association, in co-operation with the Old Girls’ Association, would be given a representative on the High Schools’ Board. The incorporation of the society should be proceeded with immediately and the body could then have a legal entity. During the coming year, in preparation for the jubilee, an effort, would be made to interest the older old boys in the association. In conclusion, he thanked the secretary, Mr. H. Nicholson, who had stepped into the breach when the previous secretary had found it too arduous. Unfortunately, he would not bo able to continue during the next year, but Mr. C. Clark had consented to act as secretary again. Mr. J. G. Imlay seconding the motion, congratulated the association on its financial position. The annual report was received and passed without further discussion. Election of Officers. Ths election of officers resulted as follows:—Patrons, Messrs. William Macalister, R. A. Anderson, J. T. Carswell, R. M. Strang and T. D. Pearce (re-elected); president, Mr. S. M. Macalister (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. C. E. Borne, R. J. Gilmour, J. D. Shand, J. A. Fraser, J. G. Imlay, A. W. Jones, R. Brownlie, E. A. Nichol, G. J. Yule, R. Mabson and John Gilkison; committee, Messrs. C. Rout, E. Squires, K. Robbie, T. Pryde, A. Harrington, P. H. Nicholson, L. Patterson, E. Hawke; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. Clark; assistant secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. G. Sutton; hon. auditor, Mr. H. R. Wilcox. General. The design of the new association blazer was discussed, Mr. T. D. Pearce stressing the necessity to keep the traditional shades of colour belonging to the school, and to prevent non-members of the association from buying it. The matter was finally left to the executive committee. “The School." After the loyal toast had been honoured, Mr. J. G. Imlay rose to propose the toast of “The School.” “In its narrowest sense, the school is only a building of bricks and mortar,” he said, “but in reality it is more than that—it is a place where great friendships are forged, characters formed and power in mind and body acquired,” Mr. Imlay went on to speak of recent successes in scholarship and on the playing fields gained by past scholars. As far as the shell of the school was concerned, those boys who had attended only the old building were to a certain extent envious of the modern and beautiful surroundings in which the present boys worked and played, but nevertheless the old school had associations that could never be forgotten. “You will recognize that I am in a difficult position,” said Mr. T. R. Cresswell who replied to the toast, “when I have to reply to the toast of ‘The School.’ I should not try to tell you very much about the Southland Boys’ High School although I could about many schools in general.” Mr. Cresswell went on to say that the boys he had always met at High Schools, and in fact in all secondary schools throughout New Zealand, were of a very high type and those in the Southland High School were fully equal to any. The staff also had done their very best to help him and the school. Dealing with the Old Boys’ Association, he said that any similar association should play a very dominant part in the forming of a schools’ tradition. What was the proper form of relationship between the Old Boys’ Association and its individual members, and the school itself? The general feeling on first leaving school was relief and the tendency was to throw one’s books to the wind and say: “Now for a stroll down the street with my first public cigarette!” That spirit might persist for a while, but when the young fellow came into contact with the reality of life, he found that disagreeable work was not left forever and that the school training and discipline had done him service. Inevitably, if the boy had really imbibed the spirit of the school, the sentiments with which he left the school would change and he would find the recollection of the old care-free life of school days to be a poignant memory. He would feel a gratitude towards his old school and he would look for ways in which to help it. Boys might join old boys’ associations partly for social reasons, but the worthiest motive should be to give the present boys an example of loyalty and love to their school. Mr J. Dakin, who replied to the toast in a humorous speech, commented on the great change that had come over school life during the past 200 years. He provoked continuous amusement with anecdotes of the old conflicts between masters and boys. The improvement in school life, he continued, was an example of the way in which the life of the whole of mankind could be improved and brought again to the Golden Age. Most of the unhappiness of the world was due to man’s lack of reasoning power. "Most of man’s life seems to be occupied playing with balls,” he said. “As a child he is given a coloured ball and that is only changed for marbles, footballs, cricket balls, bowls or the infinitely worse balks of destruction —cannon balls and bullets.” Mr Dakin concluded by expressing the hope that the schools would be utilized to teach boys more things better than those. Mr A. H. Robins also briefly replied to the toast. “The Association.” The toast of “The Association” was proposed by Mr T. D. Pearce, who said that it had had its ups and' downs, but now that it had achieved legal entity he hoped it would never lose strength. He was particularly pleased to see that the sporting clubs connected with the association were flourishing. The action taken in securing a blazer was an excellent move towards

showing the existence and vitality of the association. Mr Pearce concluded by wishing the association every success; the friendships established during school life were more precious than any later ones and any movement to continue them was sure of success. , , , • • In reply, Mr Macalister said that his view of the objects of the association was to help the old school and to continue the friendships existing between old pupils. If there was one thing school taught a boy it was loyalty and service. One of the main spheres in which that loyalty could be shown was in assisting the old school, and that was the aim that the association should keep most in view. If that object was lost sight of, the association would not continue to prosper. The association was also doing its best to keep old comrades together and a special move would be taken during the year to get the older past pupils ►ogether. A good idea would be to have an appropriate song and a prize of two guineas would be given to any old boy who would compose a suitable song. Other Toasts. Proposing the toast of “The Board of Governors,” Mr A. W. Jones said that the board was to be congratulated on securing for the boys such fine surroundings as the present boys had. He paid a tribute to the leadership of Mr R. M. Strang, the chairman of the board, who had foresight and acumen which had enabled him to carry the board through its many difficultlef?Mr R. M. Strang, in replying, said the board of governors could do only a certain amount of work because it had only a limited income. That income was spent as liberally and wisely as the board could spend it. When the hostel was erected (and he hoped it would be commenced early next year), there would be even more work for the Old Boys’ Association to do. As far as the tennis courts were concerned, the board was attempting to secure a drainage outfall through the reserve. In conclusion, Mr Strang referred to the work done by Mr Pearce, who had always striven with the welfare of the school in view. Mr J. T. Carswell, who was mentioned by Mr Strang as being the oldest member on the High Schools Board, also briefly replied to the toast. . . The toast of “Kindred Associations, was .proposed by Mr T. R. Pryde and responded to by Messrs A. Shaw (Christchurch High School) ; J. C. Prain (Waitaki Boys’ High School) ; R. H. Lovett (Whangarei High School); T. R- Cresswell (Christchurch); W. Torrance (Otago); E. Tapley (Christ’s College). . “The Association’s Clubs” was proposed by Mr J. A. Fraser and responded to by Messrs C. W. Rout (football), A. Kingsland (swimming), and D. Patton (gymnasium). The final toast of the evening, The Chairman,” was proposed by Mr R. M. Strang, who paid a tribute to the work of Mr Macalister for the association. The High School Orchestra supplied excellent music during the dinner Items I were given by Messrs A. Kingsland, 1. I Pryde and J. G. Imlay.