HONOUR NOT HONOURS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 620, 23 March 1929, Page 13

HONOUR NOT HONOURS”

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S ADVICE ANZAC BANNER PRESENTED “In the words of that wonderful soldier, Marshal Foch, ‘Duty is doing what is right whatever may happen afterwards.’ ” said the Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson, at the presentation of the Anzac banner for war essays at the Cornwall Park School yesterday. Tlie Cornwall Park School has won the Anzac banner on three out of the four occasions on which it has been competed for. Lady Alice Fergusson was also present at the ceremony. A guard of honour of the boys of the school dressed in white shirts and black shorts was provided for their Excellencies. The whole school was assembled in the playground, and there was also a large attendance of parents and friends. The headmaster, Mr. William Birss, 8.A., paid a tribute to the work of one of his assistants, Mr. TynnyclifEe, to whom the credit was due for Cornwall Park’s great record in the competition. He was one of the original Expeditionary Force, and was at Gallipoli. “If the school can keep alive the memory of the spirit of the men of Anzac, of Flanders, of Palestine, and of those who fought in the air and on the high seas,” said the headmaster, “then we are proud and happy to do it.. The men who fought in the war, and many of whom died, were from the public schools. Don’t let us forget it, so that when the time comes —

if it ever conies—you will serve your country too,” concluded Mr. Birss. KEEPING MEMORIES ALIVE His Excellency thought it -was a splendid idea of the originators of the competition to present the banner, to keep alive the memory of the fathers —and the mothers—who did their duty in the days gone by. “I say mothers advisedly,” said Sir Charles, “for their splendid spirit of selfsacrifice.” The banner had been presented, he said, “just that you who were too young to remember what happened in those days might be reminded of it. If you were not encouraged to read about what those men did, you would in a few years’ time have forgotten their great sacrifice. Referring to the death of Marshal Foch, the great commander of the Allies, the Governor-General said he was a very wonderful man. He also referred to the Cornwall Park motto, “Honour not honours.” “Those big men like Foch were not thinking of what they were going to get out of it—but simply hoonur—the doing of their duties,” he said. Sir Charles congratulated tlie school on winning the banner again. He was sure they were thinking not of the honours which they had won, but of the honour they had gained for their school.

Sir Charles then presented the banner to the headmaster, and the individual prizes to the following: Allan Boulton, first; Phyllis Ross, Jean McKinnon, Joyce Muncaster, Helen Carron and Wilfred Wharf, of Cornwall Park. Papatoetoe School was second, and Parnell third in the competition. Tlie president of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, Lieu-tenant-Colonel T. H. Dawson, C.M.G., C.8.E., traced briefly the history of the banner. “In these days,” said Colonel Dawson, “lie was glad to hear a headmaster who was not a militarist, but who thought of the some day when we might have to fight again. SCHOOL GIVEN HOLIDAY The chairman of the Cornwall Park School Committee, Mr. G. E. Smerdon, also spoke. Mr. H. S. W. King and Mrs. N. E. Ferner were present, representing the Auckland Education Board. The school saug the National Anthem, “Men of England,” “We Are Marching Onward,” and the school choir rendered “God Defend New Zealand.”

At the Governor-General’s request, the school was granted a holiday for the rest of the day.