45 YEARS A SCHOOLMASTER

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1933, Page 8

45 YEARS A SCHOOLMASTER

RETIREMENT OF MR. F. W. MASON.

TURUTURU PEOPLE HONOUR HIM. Mr. F. W. Mason, a schoolmaster for 45 years and headmaster of the Turuturu school since its foundation some years ago, was honoured at Hawera on Tuesday night on the eve of his retirement. A tribute to his outstanding record was paid by a representative gathering and presentations were made to himself and Mrs.' Mason. Mr. R. G. Hancock, chairman of the school committee, presided and presented Mr. Mason with a chiming clock. Mr. Hancock said Mr. Mason had earned his period of retirement. He had always given of his best for Turuturu children both in school and but of it, in sports as well as in teaching. He had always worked harmoniously with the school committee, which was genuinely sorry to lose him. With the gift went the best wishes of the householders of the district.

Mr. Mason thanked the gathering for the honour it had done him. He believed in sport in moderation as it gave the children confidence. Mr. Hancock had referred to his 45 years of service, but it seemed only yesterday since he started teaching at Wanganui in the days of the penny-farthing bicycles. He had. commenced at £25 per annum but in the nineties the colonial scheme had come in, bringing uniformity, and since then salaries had been much better. To-day children and teachers were friends and he would be sorry to lose the smiling faces he saw around him. Mr. Mason paid a tribute to the school committee, which, starting from scratch, had greatly improved the grounds. The committee had raised hundreds of pounds for the school. The teachers also had been a great help to him, all working harmoniously together. Mrs. Gerrard had been there from the beginning and for the school’s sake he would like to see her. there for years.

A presentation of crystal ware was then made .to Mrs. Mason by Mrs. Hancock and little Zoe Lippingwell handed Mrs. Mason a . bouquet. A concert programme was contributed as follows: Community sing, led by Mr. W. G. Simpson; piano duet, Margaret and Mary Crawford; songs, Joan Hopkins, Nancy Hopkins, Miss M. Sunderland, Mrs. R. S. Allwright, Mr. R. S. Allwright and Mr. W. G. Simpson; recitations, Joyce Spratt and Whoki McCallum; vocal duets, Pauline and Christine McEwen, Molly Martin and Eldon Crawford; hunting song, Beryl Chadwick and Joan and Nancy Hopkins; dance, Alison Corrigan; vocal duets, Mr. and Mrs. Allwright. Mrs. A. J. Corrigan, Mrs. Simpson and Miss G. Chadwick played the accompaniments. Supper was served. '