OLD BOYS COMBINE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 153, 24 March 1939, Page 6

OLD BOYS COMBINE

Secondary Schools DOMINION ASSOCIATION The Combined Secondary Schools' Old Boys’ Association of New Zealand held its first luncheon in Wellington yesterday when some 30 old boys’ associations were represented. The association has been in existence for about eight months and it has received the support not only of the secondary schools but also of private colleges. The Dominion council consists of one representative from each old boys’ association. At present 25 schools and colleges are affiliated and eight more are to join up next month. Explaining the origin of the association, the president, Mr. J. D. AVillis, said it owed its existence to the necessity for making representatives to the Government when changes to the Education Act were proposed.. Every secondary school of any size in New Zealand from Wbangarei to Invercargill was a member and all denominations were included. There were private as well as public schools and the association purported to be entirely non-poli-tical. It was true that representations had been made to the Government ou educational matters, but only because the schools concerned felt that their traditions were being attacked, perhaps unconsciously.

“An organization such as ours can become one of the most influential bodies in the Dominion,” said Mr. Willis. “There are scores of thousands of old boys throughout the country and more leaving. We must see that their influence is used properly, reasonably ami in the best interests of all the schools. Broadly speaking, the association’s aim will be to embark ou undertakings similar to those carried on by the individual associations.”

Safeguarding Traditions.

Sir Charles Statham, M.L.G., patron of the association, expressed his confidence in the ability of the association to perform a great deal of useful work in keeping alive the old associations and safeguarding the old traditions. The association could do much in regard to defence. That was not a matter of party politics and it was the duty of everyone to give what assistance he could. “We can feel,” said Sir Charles, "that our schools are founded on the traditions of the old schools in the Motherland. I have heard the term ‘the old school tie’ used in ridicule, but there is something really worthwhile In keeping alive the spirit of the old school tie and blazer and the name of the old school. There need be no sense of snobbishness in that. It means that the wearer is carrying on the honour of his old school and it is for him to see that it is m?t in any way tarnished. “I do hope that the association will increase in numbers and continue to play a very useful part in the community.”