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CIVIC SERVICE
Old Hobnrtian* Praised
"Coming of Age" Dinner
Community service in which the Old
Hobartlan Association has interested
Itself was praised by the Treasurer (Mr.
B. Dwyer-Gray), who represented the
Government at the 21st anniversary din-
ner of the association at Heathorn's
Hotel, Hobart, on Saturday night. The
dinner, which was one of a series of
functions arranged to celebrate the
"coming-of-ago" of the association,
was attended by a largo gathering,
thoroughly representative of the suc-
cessive classes of the Behool, and in-
cluding a number who attended the first
State High School housed In old Trinity
Hill building.
Tho president of the association (Mr.
P. H. Mitchell) was chairman, and as-
sociated with lilm wore the Treasurer
(Mr. K. Dwyor-Grny), the Director of
Education (Mr. G. V. Brooks), Colojiel
h. H. Payne, president of the Hobart
High School Parents' Association, Mr.
H. V. Biggins (headmaster of the
school), Mr. A. I<. Meston (headmaster
ai Launceston High School).
After the loyal toast,
The president pioposcd the toast of
the guests, and extended a welcome to
them. They appreciated the fact, he
said, that one of the first actions of the
prebent Ministry was the removal of
fees charged high school scholars. Mr.
and Mrs. G. V. Brooks always had
shown a keen Interest lu the association,
and, in fact, Mr. Brooks had not missed
one of the annual gatherings of that
type. Others to whom Mr. Mitchell ex-
tended a special welcome were Colonel
and-Mrs. Payne, Mr. R. W. G. Gandy
(Rhodes Scholar for Í935), Mr. Meston,
Mr. and Aira. C. R, Baker, Mr. R. Hud
spoth, headmaster of the Hobart Junior
Technical School, and Mr. Davidson
(secretary of the Old Tech Collegians),
Mr. A. D. Foot, ex-prestdent of the
Launceston Old Scholars' Association,
and Mr. Max Moore, first secretary of
the Old Hobartlan Association.
SO-CALLED ECONOMY,
The Treasurer, in reply, said that
among the things that had progressed
very groatly since his tlrst visit to Tac
manla was education. Tho gathering
was the last place where anybody should
make a disturbing political allusion, but
ho wanted to say that in no circum-
stances whatever could he imagine him-
self agreeing lo anything like so-called
economy in education. His view was
that It was practically impossible for
tho State to spend too much on educa-
tion of its children and public health,
provided always that the monoy was
wisely spent. On January 28, 1913, a
very important educational develop-
ment occurred in Tasmania, because on
that date were initiated high schools
in Launceston and Hobatt. To-day
they were celebrating tho majority ot
the Old Hobartian Association, which
caine into being on Juno 19, 11)15, The
Hobart High School originally had
something like 140 pupils. To-day
there were about SOO. The school
rapidly outgrew its first premises at
Trinity lilli, and was now outgrowing
its second premises. Soon there would
bo an addition to the High School in
another locality in Hobart.
The association had grown with the
years, and ho had no doubt whatever
In describing ii as one of the most im-
portant and valuable organisations in
Hobart. Both school and association
were doing a splendid work for the com-
munity, and the Government appre-
ciated that valuable work. tMany Taa
mnnlans who had gained high positions
in Uie State and on the mainland owed
a great deal to the personal influence
and the teaching of Mr. Mitchell. The
association had engaged in social and
sporting activity, behool Improvements,
inter-club and inter-school relations in
a practical mid praiseworthy manner.
It liad taken a particularly valuable in-
tercut in various matters of importance
to Hobart and the State, among them
the Wembley Exhibition, and the total
of its gifts to the community were well
over £1,000.
Mr. A. !.. Meston supported the re-
sponse, and reteired tu the fact that
much of the credit for forming the asso-
ciation was duo to tho late Mr. R. C.
Stephens, one ol' the original masters
at the schcol. It was he who had sug-
gested the name, and he hud often
spoken of the time when the association
would become a great and vital force
in the community.
OTHER TOASTS.
The toast of the Rhodes Scholar for
1D3Ü (Mr. n. W. G. Gaudy) was made
by Mr. .ÜroukB, who said it was pleasing
to know that young men coming from
tho hlKh schools were distinguishing
themselves in that way. In 10 years
State 11 Ich Schools had provided more
than half the Rhodes scholars. He
hoped that .Mr. Gandy would emulate
Dr. Roland Wilson, Commonwealth Sta-
tistician.
Mr, Gandy replied.
Mr. D. C. Green proposed the toast
of the school, and recalled many inci-
dents lu tho school's eutly years. Mr.
11. V. Biggins in lils response said the
teachers appreciated the fact that the
loyalty and affection of the school years
still oxisted. The present enrolment at
the Hobart High School was 175. Never
before In the history of Tasmanian edu-
cation had there been a school of that
size ¡n secondary education work. Add-
ed to that dllllculty was the fact that
the school was built to accommodate
500. He felt sure that the new school
at Xevv Town would bo only one of
many that would be built lu the near
future, but the Hobart High School
would have the satisfaction of know-
ing that it wns the pioneer, with Laun-
ceston, and that it had laid the founda-
tion for the later superstructure of sec-
ondary education in Tasmania. .
The toust, "Kindred Associations,"
was proposed by Mr. M. A. McNcalr, and
responses were made by Mr. A. D. Foot,
ox-president of the Launceston High
School Old Scholars' Association, and
Mr. R. Hudspeth, headmaster of the
Hobart, Junior Technical School. Mr.
Foot Btatcd that associations such as
these had a bigger service-civic servjee,
and old scholars' associations should get
behind every civic move and do all they
could for the benefit of the State. In
Victoria such organisations were com-
bined in one largo association, which
did Us ittmoht to promote the welfare
of the city and State to which the mem-
bers belonged.
Colonel Payne extended congratula-
tions to the association when ho pro-
posed the assoclalion toast, and the re-
sponso wns made by Mr. A. W. Totter
(secretary). Tríbulo to the work of Mr.
Mitchell for the association was ex-
pressed by Mr. L. G. Morgan, who in
proposing Mr. Mitchell's health pointed
out that ho had been president of the
association for the whole of Its exist
once.
The toaBt, "The Ladies." was proposed
by Mr. C. McKnrlane, and the response
was made by Miss J. Batt, winner of an
Orient scholarship.
Mr. T. Doe rendered a vocal item dur-
ing the evening, and Miss W. Mitchell
was accompanist for the musical hon-
ours associated with the toasts.
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