WAIHI HIGH SCHOOL

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9062, 22 April 1937, Page 2

WAIHI HIGH SCHOOL

ANNUAL MEETING OF OLD PUPILS THE SECRETARY'S REPORT TRANSFER OF MR SLEVIN The annual meeting of the Waihi High School Old Pupils' Association was held in the Council Chambers last evening, Mr C. O'Neill presiding over a good attendance of old pupils. The annual report and balancesheet presented by the hon. secretary, Mr F. R. Slevin, were received and adopted, the balance-sheet showing a very satisfactory financial position.

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Mr C. O'Neill; vice-presidents, Mrs A. Taylor, Miss S. Armour, Miss A. E. Prescott and Messrs R. Clark, P. Lyndon and 0. Bell; joint secretaries, Miss A. E. Prescott and Mr R. Farrell; executive committee, Mrs A. Waite, Misses M. White, P. Timanus, E. Morgan, M. Delaney and Messrs A. Waite, N. Wynn, G. Pennell, D. Stamp and A. Robinson; auditor, Mr i R. Clark.

Appreciation of the work of the hon. secretary, Mr F. R. Slevin, was expressed by the chairman, who, on behalf of the association thanked Mr Slevin for his invaluable services in the interests of the association, first as president and later as secretary. A hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. Mr Slevin, who had just received notice of his transfer to Napier, tendered his resignation; this came as a thunderbolt, and was accepted with great regret by the association.

ANNUAL REPORT The annual report, as presented by Mr Slevin, was as follows: — "I have pleasure in reporting that the year ended March 31, 1937, has been the most successful so far experienced. Fifty old pupils became financial members and quite a number have already paid their subscriptions for the current season. This shows an increasing practical interest in the work of the association which has for its aims, contact with the old school, with its fellows, and with the community in general. The greatest interest has been manifest at all executive meetings which have been remarkably well attended and conducted in such a manner that it has been both a privilege and a pleasure to take part in discussions. But your executive can scarcely be satisfied with a position where the roll is so big and increasing annually and yet so few avail themselves of full membership. With our numbers we should be in the happy financial position to rent club rooms, appoint them with social comforts, library and magazine facilities, to stimulate interest in all ex-pupil activities, and to maintain better contact with the school and the work of the High School Committee. It behoves the incoming executive to explore every means of increasing membership for 1937. "During the year two functions were held, one in June being a dance which, from every viewpoint, proved a success, the other, in July, an evening for financial members and the ladies' executive. At the former function an opportunity was given the president, Mr C. O'Neill, to make a presentation to Mrs A. S. Rae and Mrs D. Walker, both staunch workers for the association. THE ANNUAL DINNER

"The annual re-union dinner and dance, held on Saturday, March 20, proved an unqualified success and even though we suffered a small financial loss your executive has been well repaid by the tone and enthusiasm of the gathering. The association has now organised four annual re-unions and thanks are due to those bodies which lend each year table-tops and trestles and other very necessary equipment. It is time, however, for the incoming executive to consider the buying of crockery ware, plates, etc. Our functions are now permanent annual fixtures and even though the supplying firm makes little profit on the hiring-out, yet the yearly cost would soon pay for complete sets of permanent ware. Splendid success attended the efforts of the executive in organising a church parade on the Sunday following the annual dinner. Over sixty- joined in, this promising well for what will certainly be an important feature of each re-union. Efforts were made during the year to form sub-associations in Wellington and Auckland but the difficulty of suitable meeting places has so far not been overcome. The association blazers and crests have sold well during the year. Both are distinctive and very suitable and every precaution is taken to see that they are kept exclusively to old pupils. "For the current year the attention of the executive will be directed towards: (a) Revising and completing as far as possible the register of old pupils. We feel that many living in the district are not included; (b) circularising old pupils with items of business and jottings of interest. In conclusion we wish to

thank sincerely the High School Committee for the use of the staff room for executive meetings, the Press for its courtesy, and friends for their support."