BETTER ACCOMMODATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 9

BETTER ACCOMMODATION

AT THE GIRLS' COLLEGE. Reporting to the Board of College Governors yesterday, the lady principal of the Girls' College (Miss M'Leiin), who has just returned from a visit to America, said: "The chief interest of my travel to mo, now is tho hope that 1 am better able to help the board to establish n, giVls' school of which the city may be proud., All the other large cities in New Zealand are better provided for. The present school can bo considered as little better than a patchwork or makeshift. "For instance: (1) Wo are ■ housed in three different buildings, which involves inuoh loss of time- iu exchanging teachers, inconvenience in wet weather, and increased work in the administration. "(2) The i only assembly hall is so small that throe'different groupings are necessary to reach all tho girls. :: "(3) The grounds are so small that there is only one tennis court among GOO girls. ' "(■!) A hostel has never been provided by the board for the Girls' School. "(5) No school of any standing abroad is without an adequate library and librarian. Our only library this year is a mere passage-way. When the board con. eiders the fact that a library should bo the pivot of students' work it may realise how greatly wo aro hampered by present conditions." ■ "Only one working in tho school can realise tho strain and difficulty of carrying on under these unsatisfactory con. ditions. Wo' have been acutely short of room for-many years, the additions won proving inadequate. No other school in New Zealand has waited so long for proper buildings. And under these circumstances I'appeal to the board to fieethat this school gets iirst consideration now that the war is over and money is available. "Tho , board may remember that only n.JMOOO addition was made after free place pupils were admitted. Naturally it soon proved inadequate, and pupils vero being refused admittance. But only another J31200 hoe since been spent. Tho solution of the trouble now is to buikl a. modern, commodious building on the best site obtainable. The present school could be used as a branch school. "I would welcome tho opportunity of discussing our school requirements with the board. If a meeting could be arranged at the college members might understand ihe position befJor.",