STRATFORD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID BY THE HON. J. B. HINE.

The foundation stone of the New Technical High School was laid yesterday by the Hon. J. £. Bine, Ministev .'or Internal Affairs, in the presence of a very good attendance of people, including visitors from practically all over Taranaki. Mr. R. Masters, chairman of the Education Board, presided. Prior to the ceremony, the children marched in procession, followed by many townspeople, to the site of the new school. A band led the procession and played suitable music.

The Mayor (Mr. W. J. McMillan! extended, on behalf of the citizens of Stratford, a hearty welcome to the visitors, and then proceeded to sketch the history of the movement to secure a technical school worthy of the district The Mayor paid a tribute to Mr. Tyrer, "our old, esteemed friend and teacher, who has been instrumental in earning for the present District High School a reputation from the North Cape to the Bluff." The necessity for a separate high school was first brought under the notice of the committee, and had been persistently kept before their notice, by Mr. Tyrer. They had also to thank the Education Board. They 1 had had the sympathy and assistance first of Mr. Trimble, late chairman, and more recently of Mr. R. Masters, who had not spared himself in the interests of the school. Others they were indebted to were Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., the Hon. Hanan, late Minister of Education, the officers of the Education Department, and the present Government, which had put the building in hand so promptly. Mr. Walters, chairman of the Stratford County Council, said the new school was of as much interest to the country as to the town. All wanted to see Stratford advance, and the town was going ahead very satisfactorily, but it could not go very far without the assistance of the country. In the country they had impressed upon the Government the need for a technical high school, All were agreed that they must have the best possible means for educating the children, no matter how much they differed on other questions, and so long as they gained their purpose and turned out boys and girls qualified to become good citizens fitted to assist the Dominion in its competition with other countries, it did not matter whether that fitness was received at a private or public school. He was pleased to see the church schools coming along, for they were putting a little grit into the State Bchools. He was assured that the technical high school they were about to erect would become one of the main high schools in the Dominion.

j Mr. J. Boon (chairman of the School Committee) said the ceremony that afternoon bad only been made possible by the whole-hearted support given by the members of tiie Education Board, the Mayor, Borough Council, and the chairmiur of the County Council. The bulk of the work had fallen upon Mr. Masters, who had helped them in every way possible. The last thing was to get the additionad

£5.1000 needed voted, and they had to thank their member, Major Hine, for this. The stone would have been laid some time ago had it not been fcr the change of Ministers. The bracing climate of Stratford was conducive to a clear brain, and, with Mr. Tyrer's organising ability, had enabled the school to hold its own with any part of New Zealand. He pointed out how urgent the necessih for a new school was. The present building had been built to accommodate CiiO, and they had now 840 attending The committee did not know how they were going to get on next year, and the Education Board would have to consider either hiring a hall or erecting temporary premises.

Mr. .R. Masters said the day was one of the most important in the history of the town. They were making a distinct step forward. He looked for the time when Stratford, with its favorable geographical position, its excellent school, and bracing climate, would become the educational centre of the province (Applause.) The function would no! have been possible were it not for Mr ] Tyrer, whose Work for years past had j gained for the Stratford school recognition throughout New Zealand. The school had been on the "go" since 191(i, but, as they knew, Government Departments moved slowly. He traced the history of the movement that had its fruition that day. The district liig'i school had served its purpose, and it was never intended that it should accomodate upwards of 200 pupils. The Education Board felt that the time had arrived for a separate school, that courses additional to those taken in the District High School were necessary, and that technical instruction on extended lines should be given. In the new school any subject would be taught, provided there was a sufficient number of pupils to form a class. Some had criticised the site on the grounds that it was too fav away, but to include the subjects they wanted to teach a fair amount of land was required, as well as for recreation purposes. They hoped to see 500 pupils attending the school before long, and for such a number a large site was necessary. The site was attached to the model dairy farm, and he had to think the model dairy farm commitee for their generous treatment of the board. They had given 20 acres of land which the board might have at any time it was required, with the right to acquire the freehold. This would enable them to

give instruction in agriculture. On the .other side of the road they had six acres, the gift of the Borough Council as a site for hostels, and he hoped to see two hostels built on that section for the convenience of country children. When the school was finished, he concluded, they would be in a better posijtion to turn out those good citizens which the Stratford school had been turning out. Major Hine apologised for the Minister for Education, Sir Francis Bell, and paid a tribute the late Minister for Education (Mr. Hanan), for his services in the interests of education during the period of his oflice. He expressed admiration for the way in which Mr. Tyrer had carried on his work. His great success had to a large extenj; been due to his gift for choosing suitable associates. He encouraged, if suitable, boys and girls to enter the teaching'profession. The school was "behind the times." and the new building should have been erected long ago. The reason for the delay was the reluctance to deprive the High School of the services of Mr Tyrer. Now that Mr. Tyrer was nearing superannuation, however, the school had become possible. He hoped it would accomplish its object. Ho emphasised the advantages that would be derived from agricultural instruction Major Hine then, amidst applause, declared the stone "well and truly laid," Mr. Tyrer, who was received with apAJftHftb I*i4 hj« lid bigg grgdittd ,wjig

having followed successful methodsThe method was simple. First they taught the child to be straight and l truthful, then they got the child to I think for itself, and having done that | they taught it to work. i At the conclusion of the ceremony j visitors were entertained to alternoon i tea at the Medina Tea Rooms, and a few i speeches were delivered.

Mr. Skoglund referred to the advantages of having in any centre a seat of learning, and expressed the hope that Stratford would be the seat of learning for Taranaki. The successful man was the man who could grasp opportunities, and Stratford was going to have many opportunities. He hoped they, would have men at the head of affairs.who would be able to make the most of these opportunities. He concluded by paying a warm tribute to the work of Mr. Tyrer.

Mr. C. D. Sole, chairman of the Hospital Board, referred to the value of technical education in fitting the people to compete with others in the markets of the world.

Mr. P. J. H. White, a member of the education Board, congratulated Stratford on securing at least a secondary school. He was delighted to Ree an institution started which must be for the good of the community. The Education Board did not view education in a parochial sense, and he urged all to take a very keen interest in education. They could not put their energies in water-tight compartments and confine one man to education, another to health, and so on. They wanted to take an interest in all that concerned their welfare. He associated himself with the complimentary references made to the work of Mr. Tvrer.

Mr. Boon said that the pupils attending the D.H.S. came from Waitara, Tnglewood, Midhirst, Eltham. Kaponga, find Whangamomona, and it would be necessary yet to have a hostel, and this would be considered when the school is completed. He hoped the Hon. Major Hine would take this matter up. Mr. Sutherland, Mayor of Inglewood. said that 80 per cent, of the Inglewood boys receiving secondary education were at the Stratford school, and they were very proud of their successes under Mr. Tyrer.