OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1919, Page 3

OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth High School Old Boys' Association was held in the School Assembly Hall last night, the president (Mr. P. J. H. White) occupying the chair. There were about 30 members present. lu moving the adoption of the report, a summary of which has already been published, the chairman referred with satisfaction to the large attendance at the meeting and to the increased interest in the affairs of the association and the progress of the school. He also spoke generally on educational matters, and said that, with the development of facilities for education, it might be in the future that, in the establishment of University centres outside what are now the chief centres of population, New Plymouth would become the seat of sucli an institution. He urged the old boys also to take their proper part in the life of C o. community and the development of their district.

The motion was seconded by Mr. A. Bewley, and carried without further discussion.

The election of officers resulted an follows: President, Mr. E. P. Webster; vice-presidents, Messrs A. M. MacDiarmid and P. Jackson; treasurer, Mr. R. George; joint secretaries, Messrs J. B. Wilson and Reg. Howell; executive committee, Messrs A. Bewley, P. J. H. White, P. Atkinson, D. Saxton, C. H. Wynyard, W. H. Jenkmson, and E. D. Colson. It was recommended that Mr. N. Day should be appointed as the representative of the school on the executive. Mr. A. H. Avery was appointed auditor. The question of a suitable war memorial in memory of old boys who gave their lives in the war was brought up The executive had discussed the matter, and sketch plans had been prepared of a school chapel, which was intimated to cost £3700, and of entrance gates and an overhead library, the cost of which would he in the region of £2OOO. In regard to the former proposal, laud woulJ also have to be acquired for a chape'. So far as a suitable entrance was concerned, something would have to be. done soou by the Board of Governors, even if the old boys did not do it. Mr. Moyes had stated that he thought the school could be counted upon fur about £IOOO. Mr. White thought that, in raising the sum required, they could not go outside of old boys and the parents of old and present pupils of the school. During the discussion on the proposals there was strong favor shown for the proposal to erect a chapel. It was stated that a chapel was really necessary to the work of a secondary school, and that no finer memorial could be raised to the old boys who fell in the war than a school chapel. It was suggested that a definite object should be set before the association, and confidence was expressed in the ability to raise a sum of £SOOO if necessary. Mr. Ronald H. Quilliam moved that the question of a memorial to old boys who fell in the war be referred back to the executive, with power to act, with the recommendation that the memorial should take (he form of a school chapel. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wynyard.

During tlip discussion which followed, some members expressed the opinion That the form of a memorial should be decided by the meeting, while a further suggestion was made that the memorial should lie to all who served, and not only to those who fell in the war.

The chairman expressed his opinion in the direction that the memorial should commemorate the service of all the old boys who went to the war.

The motion was subsequently carried unanimously. $, A committee was set up to make arrangements for an old boys' ball, to be held about October 24.

On the motion of Messrs Bewley and Day, the. committee was instructed to revise the rules of the- association with the object of securing that the sports clubs formed in connection with the association should be represented on the executive, so as to have all the association's activities as much as possible under the executive's supervision. Appreciative reference was made to the assistance rendered to the association during the past year by Mr. and Mrs. Moves, and a vote of thanks to them was carried with acclamation.

A vote of thanks waa similarly accorded to the retiring president for his work during the past year, and in the course of his reply Mr. White, after thanking the meeting for the compliment paid him. said he felt the association was destined to play an important part in connection with the progress of the school and in the life oi the community.