Christ’s College

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 455, 10 September 1928, Page 16

Christ’s College

Compares Favourably with English Schools HEADMASTER’S IMPRESSION “The more I see of English public schools the more I appreciate Christ’s College.” The above confession was made by the Rev. E. C. Crosse, headmaster of Christ’s College, Christchurch, who returned by the Aorangi last evening from an extended tour of England, France and Italy.

“One of the things which impressed me on my return to England was the ignorance of the average Englishman about New Zealand,” he said. “It was almost pathetic. Quite frequently, when speaking of New Zealand, I was greeted with such a remark as ‘Oh, I suppose you have met my aunt wno went out to Australia?’ ” “I visited a large number of English public schools, including Clifton, Eton, Harrow and Winchester,” said Mr. Crosse. “The English schools have the advantage of numbers and are wealthier, but the New Zealand hoys are as good as any in the world. I think our hoys have more vitality. I was surprised at the general ignorance concerning New Zealand. I visited one school where a master was giving a geography leson to an upper form. He asked me if I would take the class as he knew so little about the Maoris. The word ‘Maoris’ by the way, is pronounced ‘Mary’s’ by most English people.” Mr. Crosse thinks that business conditions are brightening considerably in England, although some of the indusries, particularly steel, are still in a bad way. Working conditions are far behind New Zealand. Men are working very hard for £3 a week in many instances. Mr. Crosse listened to the Prayer Book debate at the House of Commons. “The interest taken in it was extraordinary,” he said. “Twenty years ago, if the subject had been brought up, the book would probably have passed. Now the whole House turned up, and the most deadly interest was taken in the discussion.

“The new Prayer Book was no doubt defeated by the Protestant mistrust of the Anglo-Catholic movement. I think the bishops will make tremendous efforts to hold the Church together and prevent discussions until the two new bishops have had time to formulate a policy. “The bishops have come through the debate with extraordinary honours. Their policy has been defeated, but they have not whined. No one was actually excited about the book, but what is exciting them now is whether hte clamour for disnow is whether the clamour for disDuring his visit to England Mr. Crosse engaged a new master for Christ’s College, Mr. J. Burrough, of Lancing. He was a student at St. John’s College, Oxford, and at Tale, United States. Mr. Burrough arrived with Mr. Crosse, and will travel to Christchurch to-morrow evening.