GIRLS' COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 134, 1 March 1919, Page 8

GIRLS' COLLEGE

£OWER DEPARTMENT DOOMED

A FINANCIAL LOSS

At : yesterday's meeting of the Wellington College Board of Governors an interesting discussion took placo regarding the lower department of the Girls' College.'. ' : ■ - .''. The chairman (Mr. P. W. Ward) said that a communication had been received from ..the Education Department stating that it hoped that the board would bo able to show that'the lower department was self-supporting. If this could not be done some action would have to be taken. Altogether there were 75 pupils attending the institution, including 28 secondary pupils who were entitled to their tuition there. The teachers' . salaries amounted to. <£633, and together with the cost of rent of the house in which the lower department pupils .were accommodated, and iucidciiuil expenses, tire total cost for the maintenance of this department was <£933 10s., whereas tho workling of tho institution showed a deficit of ,£l2B .per annum. The.'lease of tho institution expired in May next, and tho chairman did not consider it necessary to continue the department when it was not paving its way, but the bonnl was obliged to find room for three upper sciiool and 25 secondary school pupils who were at present located iii the lower department. It seemed to him that the lower department was doomed, cind that the only alternative was to ask the Education Department for assistance. The board was in arrears, and if it could not carry on the department it must either increase the fees or go on at least till -the end of the year in fairness to the children. Mr. W. H. Field suggested that the whole of the facts should .be placed before the Education Department, together with the suggested, alternative schemes. Mr. T. 'Forsyth said that no result would be obtained from this action. Personally he would prefer to see the school closed in the existing circumstances. Professor Easterfield considered that, the board should first ascertain the fees charged at another'college, and then increase the fees for the lower department, but keep them below the standard cliargMr. Forsyth remarked that unless the parents were agreeable to. payinj? the increased cost of teaching, he was in favour of closing tho school. Nothing could 1» said if the board increased the tuition'fees to cover the deficit.

The chairman said that thore was a considerable amount of opposition to the lower department of the' Girls' College, and he desired that the hoard affirm whether to continued or not. If it was continued the hoard would have to abide bv certain conditions. Professor Easterfield asked whether the number of pupils had increased or decreased, and Mr. Forsyth said that six to nine more could be admitted, but the mistress had been instructed not to accept any more. Mr. W. Allan said that if .the lower department were closed 28 of the girls were entitled to tuition, but lie did not see where they could be admitted. Mr. Forsyth said that the college was •more than 'full at the present time. Mr. W.. H. Field: That is why I suggested writing to the Department. Mr. Forsyth: The question of a second school (college) is urgent and should be tackled at once.

On the motion of 'Mr;:Forsyth it was decided to increase the fees to covcr working expenses, and lo renew the lease of tho. house for, another year.

ACCOMMODATION AT THE COLLEGE . FUTURE EXPANSION. Thanks to a little foresight and contriving, the accommodation at the Wellington Girls'' College this term has been found to be adequate for nil pupils offering, for the first time for many years past. Although tho addition of four classrooms has brought about this desirable state of affairs, there is still no room to spare, so that if the college roll continues to grow as rapidly as tho State system- provides (the main growth of the register is due to the big accessions of freeplace students each year 'end), it is logical for the college governors to conclude that there will be another pinch next year. Tho governors have foreseen this, and have' already discussed schemes by which the overloading of the present college premises mightba overcome. One suggestion was that another wing might bo added on.tho tennis court side of the building, but this would probably, mean the loss of the court, and, generally speaking, the governors are inclined to think it inadvisable as a matter of policy, to'crowd ,more children on to the present loca-. tion, and- further building would mean tho'curtailment of the already restricted grounds.-.; Another suggestion is that a branch College'might''bo provided: at tho' southern end of the city, to take tho children from that growing half of the town. Still another suggestion for consideration, and one which lias already found favour in some quarters, is the establishment of a boarding college, well outside the city, ■ where ii suitable area 'of, land could be secured comparatively cheaply. It is argued that such a college would fall in with the views d many city people,.-who would like their children to have the benefit of the pure country air, ; -far ■-removed from the streets of a busy city like Wellington, and "if " such a. collego • were established it would relieve the college, and be a very desirable school for girls from other parts.of the island. No definite steps have ,so far • been taken, ■ bur it is, anticipated, that one or 'other of the schemes mentioned is likely'to be given effect to before the end of the year. ,