EAST GIRLS' COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 123, 21 November 1932, Page 13

EAST GIRLS' COLLEGE

OPENING NEW GROUNDS

The active interest taken by the parents in the Wellington East Girls' College, and the enthusiasm of the Old Girls' Association were much in evidence on Saturday afternoon. Although the weather conditions were so disagreeable large crowds thronged the play area to listen to the addresses which marked the opening of the new grounds, and afterwards to buy at the well-stocked stalls, where useful and pretty articles of a' descriptions were quickly bought.

The official party included Miss Mary McLean, C.8.E., Miss Bathani (principal), Sir James Parr, Mr. G. Mitchell (chairman of the Board of Governors), Mr. Jackson (president of the Parents' Association), Mr. Holdsworth, Mr. Denton, Mrs. Lancaster, Mrs. E. W. Kane, Miss Agnea McLean, Mrs. P. Fraser, and Mr. and Mrs. Bird. Miss Mary McLean and Misa Batham were presented with beautiful bouquets. Mr. Jackson, in welcoming the visitors, said it was during Sir James's term of office as Minister of Education that the college had been built. During the past three years £350 of the £400 collected by the Ladies' Auxiliary and tho Parents'. Association had been spent in .improvements, prizes, and pictures for tho school. During the same period £277 had been raised for the college hall fund. He thanked members of tho Ladies' Auxiliary, Miss Batham, tho staff, and parents for their support. Miss Mary McLean outlined the extensive improvements which had been made since 1925. There were, however, still two great "wants"—an assembly hall and a proper gymnasium. She quoted Lord Jellicoe's remarks on the occasion of the laying of the founda-tion-stone in 1924. He had stressed the importance of homely subjects. "The cooking and dressmaking rooms are the pride of tho school," said Miss McLean. "The secondary school is the foundation of the country. I do not imply that the primary schools are not good schools, but only a small proportion of these schools give Bible teaching. This is a matter of supreme importance in character building, and I hope all parents will tako tho matter into serious consideration."

Sir. James Parr congratulated the board and the educational authorities on what had been accomplished at the college. The sum of £34,000 of Government money which had been spent on the college building aud grounds had been well spent. A striking feature of the ■ New Zealand educational system during the last four years was the demand for high school and technical education, from 60 to 70 per cent, of primary school children going on to post-primary schools. '

Mr. Mitchell thanked Mr. Jackson and the members of the Paronts' Association for their work, also Miss Mary McLean and Sir James Parr for thoir interest and assistance. :

A display of tactical marching and" folk dancing given by the college pupils in their neat uniforms drew much ad T .. miration from the visitors. Croquet,^ golf, and nail-driving competitions had: their followings, while the ever popular "Punch and Judy" show was repeated many times to amused audiences. Selections by Jupp's Band were greatly enjoyed by visitors. Stall-holders were as follows: — Flowers, Mrs. Proctor; sweets, college girls; ice-cream, Miss White and old girls; tea-room, Mrs. Jackson; produce, Mrs. Anderson; cakes, Mrs. Lang; books, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. .