FAINTING STUDENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1402, 30 March 1912, Page 8

FAINTING STUDENTS.

AT ME, BLIGH'S LECTUEB. Eefc-rence was made at the meeting of the Wellington College Governors yesterday to the statement that several students had fainted at tho college during the deliverance of a lecture by Mr. E .W. Bligh, representing the White Cross League. Mr. A. Heine, of the college staff, reported to the board that Mr. Bligh had lectured on several occasions to the boys, and that Mr. J. P. Firth (at present on holiday leave) had arranged with him to lecture again on his return to New Zealand this year. Several educational institutions of standing where Mr. Bligh had lectured were mentioned. The boys had met in two divisions at different-times to hear the lecture, which was illustrated with diagrams of a simple character, which were in no way objectionable. Tho boys under fourteen years wero spoken to for twenty minutes, and those over that age for twenty-fivo minutes. During tho second lecture there was not seating accommodation for all, and some of the boys had'to stand. Towards its close the atmosphere became somewhat close, and one boy (who had heard the lecture on four previous occasions) felt uncomfortable, fainted, and was taken out. He recovered, but fainted again, and was taken to the study, where he soon regained his normal condition. Two other boys had felt faint, and left the room, and others who felt too hot wero told that they could leave the room if they wished to do so, and several did go out. The writer attributed tho fainting of the one boy to tho atmosphere of the room, and the reason that tho boys were getting tired before luncheon. Mr. W. H. Field: "The suggestion was that th« nature of the lecture was responsible." Here the subject was dropped.