Big Bill

NZ Truth, Issue 1208, 24 January 1929, Page 6

Big Bill

•THIS is not a line on Buffalo Bill of 1 the Wild West, but on Big Bill West, of Christchurch, a genial personality, liberally endowed m frame, and a heart m like proportions. , For many years, until he earned the reward of the industrious teacher, Bill •educated the mind and moulded the character of thousands of children of the plains. . Bill ; always believed that if you made the youngsters like you better results could be achieved, and that he succeeded is borne out m the fine record he established m the various schools m and around Christchurch with which he was connected. It is the inevitable lot of the schoolmaster to be the victim of some ludicrous nickname, but the worst Bill ever got from his pupils was his Christian name. His long experience m handling children' is proving useful to him m his capacity of one of the presiding justices at the Christchurch Children's Court, and his keen judgment of the juvenile make-up quickly decideswhether it is a lecture or a thrashing that will have the desired effect upon the young delinquent. . , • In his heyday Bill held a high place m the field of sport and cherishes a number of championship titles for pole vaulting.