OLD STUDENTS’ DINNER

Southland Times, Issue 23512, 19 May 1938, Page 9

OLD STUDENTS’ DINNER

TECHNICAL. COLLEGE’S RECORD BIG GATHERING IN SMITH’S TEA ROOMS Between 150 and 200 guests were present at the 13th annual dinner of the Southland Technical College Old Students’ Association held in Smith s tea rooms last night. Mr J. L. Sutton presided, and among the guests were Mr J. H. Reed (chairman of the Board of Governors), Mr W. G. Aldridge (a former principal of the college and now principal of the Dunedin Technical College), and Mr C. A. Stewart (present principal). Mr Sutton thanked those present for their splendid response, and extended a welcome to the guests, including Mr Reed. Mr and Mrs Stewart and Mr and Mrs Aldridge. The college, he said, had so far worked under three principals, and two were present that night. The speaker also congratulated the immediate past president, Mr L. A. Blackmore, in attaining civic honours. Mr Aldridge paid a tribute to those who had formed the Old Students’ Association 12 years ago. Southland was the place where friends were constant and where the constant ones were friends, and they had reason to be proud of their Old Students’ Association. The city of Invercargill'was already becoming great, and the progress of the college was closely identified with it. The Southland Technical College began very humbly and was not yet conscious of its strength, but if they celebrated what the school was to become they would have every reason to be proud. Mr Aldridge asked those who attended the school to rise as he called the year of attendance. For the first year of the school, 1912, half a dozen former pupils rose to their feet COLLEGE AND STAFF Mr G. M. Thom, in proposing the toast of the college and its staff, said that the present roll of the college was 740. A few years ago technical schools were described as a luxury, but now they were regarded as a necessity. The Southland Technical College covered as big a range of subjects as any school in the country He thought that the esteem in which the school was held was shown by the number of employers who applied to the principal when they wished to make appointments of juniors. It was a singular compliment and it showed that they were turning out the right material. , Mr C. A. Stewart said they realized that they owed the reputation of their school to the reputation of its old students. The school realized what it owed the association in building up sentiment and school feeling, and they made a practice of having a representative of the association at the annual break-up ceremony. The numbers on the roll in his 12 years had increased by 50 per cent., although he believed his predecessors had doubled their numbers. The school had been fortunate in its teachers, and in spite of the scattered buildings and class rooms, a cordial feeling had always existed among the members of the staff. As a team and as a family party they could hold their own with any other school, especially when the conditions under which they worked were considered.

Master C. Sheat expressed the hope

that present pupils of the school would support the association in future years. Miss S. Barnett replied on behalf of the present day girls and wished the association every success. BOARD OF GOVERNORS The toast of the Board of Governors was proposed by Mr Blackmore who paid a tribute to the work of the board and thanked the members for the keen interest they had taken in the welfare of the school and in all the branches of its work. Mr Reed, in reply, said he was now in his 17th year as chairman of the board. Good progress had been made in that time, and he had had an excellent board. He also paid a tribute to Messrs Stewart and Aldridge, saying that it had been a delight to the board to work with these two successive principals. “I would like to see Mr Aldridge the new appointee for the directorship of technical education.” Mr Reed added, “because I think he would fill the job well. I would also like to express the board’s appreciation to Mr W. S. La Trobe, the retiring Director of Technical Education, for all the assistance he has given to the Southland Technical College.” Each year, Mr Reed said, saw the growth of the school continue, and if they could continue to look forward to that increase they would feel that they were achieving what they set out to achieve

He concluded by paying a tribute to Mr Stewart and the staff for the splendid work they were doing. Other toasts honoured were, “Kindred Associations” (proposed by Mr R. F. O’Brien and replied to by representative speakers), and “Affiliated Sports Clubs” (Mr G. Skipworth—Mr J. Stobo). The following programme was contributed:—Songs, Miss Mary Hunter, Mr J. Hinton; piano accordion solo, Mr V. T. Russell. Miss A. Waddell played the accampaniments.