DRIVE FOR MORE BOARDERS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 157, 29 March 1939, Page 5

DRIVE FOR MORE BOARDERS

Wellington College

SUGGESTION BY MR. VV. B. FITCHETT

The suggestion that if possible some of Hie accumulated funds in the hostel account should be used in an elfort to increase tlie number of boarders at Wellington College was made my Mr. W. B. Fitchett at yesterday's meeting of tlie Wellington Colleges Board. Nelson College bad a waiting list of 20 for its boarding establishment. said .Mr. Fitchett and the board could well consider means of making Wellington College more popular Sixteen of the boarders at Wellington College resided in Wellington city and suburbs and tlie question was whc-tlier that number could be increased. This year, 160 boys from the North Island were attending Nelson College and other colleges were also crowded. The chairman, Mr. L. McKenzie, said lie doubted whether the surplus iu tlie hostel fund could be used for the purpose suggested. Mr. W. 11. I’. Barber said that an alteration in the boundaries which would relieve the congestion at Rongotai College would probably be the simplest solution. Mrs. Knox Gilmer, who with the chairman had previously inspected tlie hostel, said she was well aware of improvements that could be effected.

The chairman and Mrs. Gilmer were authorized to prepare a written report for the next meeting of tlie board. The secretary reported that the term of office of Mrs. Gilmer and Mr. IV. H. Field, Government nominees on the board, would expire on .March 31. The board decided to recommend the reappointment of both members. •

Mr. IV. H. P. Barber mentioned that he did not wisli to be reappointed the board’s representative on the Victoria University College Council when his term of office expired in June.

Principals’ Reports.

The number of pupils on the roll was 655 and the average attendance 94.8 per cent., said the headmaster of 'Wellington College, Mr. W. A. Armour. The equipment of the first aid room was nearly completed. There remained the installation of one electric point to heat the room in cold weather. Old Boys’ Day was to be held on Saturday, April 15, the week following the Easter vacation. Arrangements were being made for the celebration of Auzae Day, in the memorial hall, probably on the morning of April 25. The number of boarders at Firth House was 67, and there were in addition 11 day boarders. The health of the boarders was excellent.

Miss E. M. North, headmistress of Wellington Girls’ College, reported that, the roll number on March 1 was 452. The average attendance was 93.4 per cent., which was lower than it should be because of the unseasonable weather and influenza.

A roll number of 547 and an attendance of 96 per cent, was reported by Mr. F. M. Renner, principal of Rougotai College. ‘Mr. Renner said that he had been informed by Mr. Semple, the M.P. for the district, that Cabinet had authorized n grant for the construction of two portable classrooms, which with tlie vacation of the two rooms in the manual training centre block after Easter would overcome the accommodation difficulty.

Miss N. G. Isaac, principal of Wellington East Girls’ College, reported a roll number of 431 and an average attendance of 95 per cent. Recently, Mie whole school had attended in three groups, subdivided into six, the special two-hour educational session arranged at tire Dominion Museum by Mr. McKenzie, the educational officer, ami had had a most enjoyable and profitable time. Also, the whole school had been attending, form b.v form, the special art appreciation lessons introduced last year at the National Art Gallery. They had again derived enjoyment, and profit from them. The reports were approved.