The Wanganui Chronicle. THURSDAU, NOVEMBER 10, 1949 “AD ASTRA"—OR WHY BRING THAT UP?

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1949, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. THURSDAU, NOVEMBER 10, 1949 “AD ASTRA"—OR WHY BRING THAT UP?

W HILE the motto of the Wanganui Girls’ College is “Ad Astra,’’ the Parents’ Association of the College are not comprised wholly of star-gazers. .Some 'of them desire to see something in concrete in the near future. The Parents’ Association, in approaching the Education Board, asking that tenders be called for the erection of the Girls’ College at Wanganui East, might very well be excused for their insistence, notwithstanding Mr. Cotterill’s natural reaction to ask: “Why bring that up?’’ When the decision to erect the new college was announced at Mr. Fraser’s political rally in Wanganui three years ago it came as a bombshell because neither the Education Board, nor the Wanganui Girls’ College Board of Governors had been informed of the Government’s decision, nor had they any knowledge that such a promise was to be made. The whole purpose of the announcement was to make it an impressive surprise which would make the citizens look up towards the stars and thank the beneficial Government by voting in favour of Mr. Cotterill. There is no doubt that quite a few people were so infuenced to vote in the desired direction and to the extent that the end justified the means the trick was probably worth it. To make sure that the announcement should register with the electors in the most effective manner, the announcement was specific. Here is how it was reported in the “Chronicle” on the morning following the meeting:

“Tenders for the new Wanganui Girls’ College will be called immediately and the building would be started early next year.” This was Mr. Cotterill’s statement made on the authority of the Prime Minister and in his presence. What a splendid trump card to play at an election.

Here was a firm promise to start on the building early in 1947. What could be fairer? The building would be erected and the scholars would be housed not in a rabbit warren as at present, but in a spacious new building worthy of a great school and the fine tradition that has been built up in it. Corn in Egypt and Joseph was the provider thereof! So tenders were called in accordance with this promise and the building was started in accordance with the promise of Mr. Fraser, communicated to an expectant, wondering world by Mr. J. B. Cotterill. This is how the report runs on: “Making this announcement at the Labour Party rally in the Opera House last night, Mr. J. B. Cotterill said that the Prime Minister, as Minister of Education, had authorised him to make the statement. Mr. Cotterill said that the Labour Government had planned to have the new Girls’ College begun in 1939, but the war had intervened.

“The work would now be proceeded with.” “Mr. Fraser told the audience later that he had hoped to have opened the new college long ago. No educational building in the country could now take precedence over the Girls’ College.” Comforting words these! Assuring words Precise and detailed were the obligations vouchsafed to the electors of Wanganui at that Labour rally three years ago. No wonder that the Girls’ College now stands on the riverbank in all its glory. Here is something concrete, for which the “Ad Astrians” can thank the Prime Minister and Mr. Cotterill. The people can go over the Dublin Street Bridge and gaze on this long promised and projected structure. There it stands, —or does it? The public should go and gaze upon the vacant lot and see the empty air and realise that in 1946 Wanganui was, in the language of the sporting fraternity, “sold a pup.” The Arabs have a proverb: “Deceive me once, shame on you: deceive me twice, shame on me.” Wanganui might well remember this Arab proverb.