SIR J. PARR.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1926, Page 1

SIR J. PARR.

A FAREWELL FUNCTION. UY TEI.EGKAPU nIESS ASS.W, COPYRIGHT. AUCKLAND, April lti. “I feel more touched by this little ceremony than by any of the fortyodd receptions 1. have had from one end ol' .New Zealand to tho other during the past month or so,” said Sir. .James Parr, the High Commissioner elect for New Zealand at the Point Chevalier school, in expressing the thanks of himself and Lady Parr for presentations made to. them b.v flic children of tho school. “Point Chevalier, in a. sense, is my baby, because ii lias grown during my term of office from an allotment to a line schoolone in which you children are getting, as lino an education as is possible in any school in New Zealand,” lie said. “Next Tuesday or Wednesday 1 will hand in my ticket as Minister of Education, and on the Saturday Lady Pair and myself will go on hoard the steamer that is to take us on our journey to England. Now, before 1 go, 1 am going to do an unconstitutional thing. J. am going to ask your chairman to allow mb to let you have a half holiday.” Prior to this pleasant announcement being communicated to tho children, the retiring .Minister had been welcomed by the Chairman of the School Committee and the Headmaster. Then Harold Agncw (a senior-boy)'stepped briskly up to the platform and presented Sir .lames with a travelling rug, followed by one of tho tiny tots of the school. Knid Cruokhane, with a bouquet, and Aimie Altcreton with a cushion, both for Lady Pan 1 . The singing of "Auld l.ang Sync” brought the gathering to a close. Sir James Parr also laid the foundation stone of a new grammar school at North. Shore, and was ten tiered a. farewell by his former constituents at Mount Albert.