SOUTHLAND B.H.S. OLD BOYS

Southland Times, Issue 25797, 8 October 1945, Page 6

SOUTHLAND B.H.S. OLD BOYS

ANNUAL MEETING AND REUNION The annual meeting and reunion of the Southland Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association,, was held on Saturday night. The president, Mr A. J. Dillon, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. In moving the adoption of the annual rejfort and balance-sheet, Mi- Dillon said that during the year the association had tried unsuccessfully to get two movements going concerning the association. One was an old boys’ choir, but it had been found that many members of the association who were interested in singing were already members of choirs. However, the executive was still interested in the possibility of establishing an old boys’ choir. The other proposal that had been investigated by the executive was that of establishing club rooms for the association. Though a search for suitable rooms had proved unavailing, the executive had not lost sight of the proposal. The association had a healthy bank balance, and this was being built up with a view to financing club rooms. The Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Association had offered to assist in the establishment of such rooms. The Old Girls’ Association had also expressed a hope that more combined functions, apart from the annual dance, would be held by the two associations. The association already had flourishing cricket, football and swimming clubs and the executive hoped that other branches of the association would be established in the near future. One suggestion was that the debating club should be revived.

The motion for the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet was seconded by Mr D. F. Leckie and carried.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Dr G. H. Uttley; president, Mr A. J. Dillon; senior vice-president, Mr W. R. Strang; vice-presidents, Messrs D. F. Leckie, B. R. Peterson, L. R. Lopdell, I. B. McCurdy, O. G. Davis and J. A. Fraser; .committee, Messrs G. Agnew, O. G. Davis, H. Fraser, H. W. Slater, K. Crawford, J. F. Matheson, T. T. Mackie, A. G. Pickard and J. C. Scandrett; honorary secretary, Mr B. R. Peterson; honorary auditor, Mr H. R. Willcox. A vote of thanks was passed to the rector of the school, Dr G. H. Uttley, for the assistance he had given to the association during the year. TRADITION OF THE SCHOOL The reunion, which followed the annual meeting, was more or less of an informal occasion, and members were given ample opportunity to meet one another, renew old friendships and talk ovex' the experiences .of their school days. In proposing the toast of “The School,” Mr J. R. Hanan said that the Southland Boys’ High School had a tradition which was second to none among the secondary schools of New Zealand. Many of the old boys of the school had attained distinction in the two world wars, and also in civil life. There was no doubt that the tradition, which they had imbibed at the school had had much to do with what they had achieved in later life. Much of this tradition was due to the efforts of the present rector, Dr G. H. Uttley, whose aim had been to train boys for life rather than to pass examinations. This was Dr Uttley’s last year at the school, and he thought it would be very difficult to find a successor as distinguished, conscientious and outstanding as Dr Uttley. There was no doubt that, if the school maintained the great tradition of the past, it would continue to make as important a contribution to the life of the community as it had done in the past. In replying to the toast, Dr Uttley referred to the work of the school during the year. He said that the boys had done even better than usual in examinations, and this was due to the efforts of the staff. The school had kept pace with modern developments in education. Art was being developed in the school, and some of the boys were doing excellent work. The woodwork class was also achieving fine results, and many improvements had been made in the science laboratory. He considered that, in the light of modern developments, it was very necessary to promote scientific education. The aim was not so much to turn out scientific research workers, as to turn out boys who, in after life, would be sympathetic towards scientific developments. He considered that the school library was second to none among school libraries in New Zealand, with the exception of one or two memorial libraries. Dr Uttley also referred to the new ideas in phj'sical instruction which were being carried out at the school. The toast of “Affiliated Clubs” was proposed by Mr E. P. Hawke and responded to by Mr A. G. Pickard (cricket), Mr I. B. McCurdy (football) and Mr 0. G. Davis (swimming).

Other toasts honoured were:—“The Board of Governors” (Mr D. F. Leckie— Mr E. H. Smith); “Returned Men of This War” (Mr J. G. Imlay-Mr A. J. Dillon); ‘‘The Performers” (Mr A. J. Dillon—Mr Kennedy Black). Mr J. C. Braithwaite gave an interesting account of his experiences with the 3rd New Zealand Division in the fighting against the Japanese in the Pacific area. During the evening items were given by Mr Kennedy Black’s glee party, and by Messrs T. R. Pedler, P. J. McNamara and J. F. Matheson.