VICTORIA COLLEGE OVERCROWDED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 14 October 1907, Page 2

VICTORIA COLLEGE OVERCROWDED.

Per Prew Assodalfoa I Wellington, Last Nlglit. I Since ISSU the number' of .students at Victoria College lias grown from 115 to I 350, ami this year the number of stuleiits has increased by thirty, compared wiLli lust yeai-. In the English class ilime there are 1,19 students. No classroom in tli& building ean accommodate this class, and the result is that the professor has to divide it into two lections and deliver his lectures twice. These facts were placed before the Minister of Education by a deputation yesterday. ,Ur. Hogg, 31.H.8., introduced the deputation, consisting of Messrs. T. E. Fleming (chairman of the College Governors), H. D. Bell, H. F. von Haast, and C. F". Powles (Registrar). .Mr. Fleming pointed out that the growth of Victor:i College had been of a very steady elnu'a.ter, and to show that the advance would continue in the future le stater] that Wellington district had 54,000 students in its secondary schools, as against 33,000 at Auckland, 25,000 at Christehurch, and 20,000 at Dunedin. 'Jhe deputation (lid not ask that the large hall or the museum should be completed, but it urged that the unfinished classroom should be fitted up and two additional classrooms erected at the rear of tlie building, the cost being estimated at £4200. The Minister (Hon. George Fowldi) said he would be only too glad if he could comply with their request, but money was scarce, and the money foi buildings for educational purposes thif year was pretty well exhausted. He did not know that it would be possible tc provide sufficient for two extra classrooms, Tiut he certainly thought the Go vernment would find enough to complete the classroom in the upstairs portion ol (he building, He undertook to piaet the matter of two additional classroom, l before Cabinet.