TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 291, 7 December 1929, Page 8

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

BREAK-UP FUNCTIONS MINISTER’S TELLING MESSAGJ “A crisis means disaster bo the weak and opportunity to I the strong.” So said the Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Labour, Mines and Transport, and Alember for Wanganui in his address to pupils of the Wanganui Technical College at yesterday’s break-up function. A large gathering in St. Paul’s Hall was presided over by Air W. At. Luxford, chairman of the College Board of Governors. Associated with him on the platform were the Hon. W. A. Veitch and Airs Veitch; the Mayor and Alayoress (Mr and Airs W. J. Rogers); Alessrs W. Bruce -and F. H. Allen (Board of Governors); Mr and Airs G. Derbyshire; Air D. AfcFajlane (chairman of the Girls’ College Board of Governors; Rev. R. CreedMeredith and the College Principal (Mr I E. Newton, AT.A.), and staff. Proceedings opened with the singing of the school song under the baton of Mr H. Abo met hey. The chairman expressed his pleasure at the attendance of a large number of parents. All were delighted to see the function come round each year, ho said, and the staff would be pleased to rest after a strenuous time.

“The year, or the latter part of it at any rate, has been very much upset so far ns the college is concerned,’’ Mr Luxford proceeded, “owing to the demolition of the building. It was not an easy matter to keep going, and Mr Newton and the staff have done wonderfully well. There have been few complaints.” The Principal (ALr L E. Newton) rea-l his report (published on page 7), statting, inter alia, that, he had hoped, on that occasion, to have gathered th« whole school together. During the past three months they had been deprived of the pleasure of meeting at assembly each morning and it would have been pleasing tc have been together on the last day. Unfortunately, the building was too small and more than half the boys had to be turned adrift. He was pleased to see so many parents present. The Hon. W. A. Veitch referred to the necessity which had arisen to demolish the college building and quoted the inconvenience which had developed l 0 convey a message that a crisis meant disaster to the weak and opportunity to the strong. The difficulty which th* staff and pupils had been working un der during the latter portion of th« year would have been a reasonable ex cuso for an unsatisfactory year’s work, he said; yet the report of the principal showed that the record had been bettor than that of any previous year. That, the speaker thought was a matter for an expression of special appreciation from him, particularly on behalf of the parents. The results showed determination on the part, of teachers and pupils to overcome difficulties. The Minister’s Message. The speaker intimated that he intended to depart from the usual practice on such occasions, which was to talk on character building, and mention what he considered was the testing point in life after school. “I have often spoken from the public platform, always with a sense of responsibility,” said the Alinistcr, “but I have never felt so keen a responsibilitv as when speaking to pupils who arc emerging from school. On the day a pupil completes his schooling —I use the term advisedly—and emerges to meet the battle of life, he has only begun his education. If he has been t-uvd't wisely he will have been taught to karn by experience. I mentioned the difficulty "hich faced the college at- the end of the year for a special purpose. In life, when disappointment comes, that occasion is the most dannerou.s You start out with vigour and when the first disappointment arrives vou are liable to crumple up. In some cases success is difficult to carry, and a certain amount of modesty is needed to bring you through without risk o danger, but it is the first difficulty whidi shakes young people’s optimism ami thev get the inclination to throw up the sponge. The great things done in the world have been accomplished by men who knew how to break disappointment.” (Applause). The presentation of prizes by Mrs Veitch followed, the recipients receiving the congratulations of the school m round after round of apphu’so. < Heers wore given for the Hon, W. A. Veitch and Airs Vetch, the chairman and Board of Governors, the Principal and staff, and the visitors. The visrtors were entertained to afternoon tea by the Principal and staff. The afternoon s enjovment was added to by a programme -of vocal and items. Contributors were the school orchestra, under the baton of Captain G Bucklev; the Girls’ Choir under Miss Duncan; Miss Al. Spurdie (song), !Bridges, Haden, Hutchens and Shernfs (vocal quartette); W Newton, W. Hutchens and R. Hutchens (instrumentai trio). , . ... (The principal’s report and prize lie’ appear on page 7).