FOUNDATION DAY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 20, 19 October 1942, Page 4

FOUNDATION DAY

Wellington College Celebration The fifth annual celebration of foundation day was held at Wellington College on Friday morning, October 16, though the actual date was Saturday, Octolßr 17 Among those on the platform were his Honour Mr. Justice Biair, Mrs. W. A. Armour, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Colonel Beere, Messrs. W. H. Denton, -I. F. McKenzie, L. W. McKenzie, H. H. Cornish, C. A. Innes, and the headmaster. After the reading of the lesson and prayers by the headmaster, and a.declamation on immortality by K. H. Dudson, Mr. Justice Blair addressed the school, outlining the history of the college up to the present time. Speaking for the board of governors, Mr. L. McKenzie referred to the founder, Sir George Grey, and showed how great a democratic leader he was. The headmaster stressed the significance of foundation day. He paid a tribute to the work the city fathers had done in allowing portion of the Town Belt to become a site for Wellington’s principal school. He mentioned that the roll of honour, though very incomplete, showed that 66 old boys were missing, 51 prisoners of war, 56 wounded, 15 missing, believed. killed, and 78 killed in action. There were 1016 old boys on active service, of whom 31 had received decorations- ; The school had done splendidly in the past in every phase of activity. This was as it should be, because the school was splendidly endowed, and . having much, much was required from it. But it always had to be recognized that the primary and essential purpose of its existence was education. Schoolmasters were all very concerned as to whether our scheme of education fully met the needs of today and of tomorrow. The world’s greatest need was for peace; but there could, be no permanent peace while any nation considered it had racial superiority over any other nation. The earth's bountiful natural resources and raw products must he shared adequately by all states, and to ensure that there must be a world association of nations or states, -there must he freedom and equality of economic, political, spiritual and educational opportunity among the nations, and good standards of living must be assured to al . These were the primal necessities for pence. “Through our system of education we must get understanding and our studies now must include social science, grounded on geography, history,, and civics, said Mr. Armour. “In a Scheme of education with this core, all other siibjects will fall into place. Let us get understanding and thus we may « 1 hope to get that wisdom which will eliminate senseless and devastating wars. The school orchestra and clubs contributed items, as did R. A. Vance (piano solo), G. E. Gay (recitation), and Corporal G. fl. Turner (son = ). At the conclusion of the ceremony in the memorial hall, the cadets paraded on the main playing field, and Coionel R. Beere took the salute at the march past.