WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 104, 29 October 1909, Page 7

WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

THE FREE-PLACE SCHOLARS. A meeting of the Wellington College Governors was held to-day, Mr. A. de Bathe Brandon presiding, and there were also present — Messrs. R. Lee, A. Waiburton, and W. H. Field, M.P., fend Miss Richmond. The chairman announced the credit balance at the bank as amounting to £2435. Payments required were — Wellington College, £495; Girls' College, £278. Fees outstanding : Wellington College, £98; arrears, £131. Girls' College: Fees outstanding, £144; arrears, £80. Rents outstanding, £247 17s sd. .V committee of members present was appointed to visit the college and to report what could be done to bring a portion of the old building up to the condition of the new. Free-place pupils, who have been somewhat abruptly withdrawn, are giving the governors some anxiety. It was explained by the chairman at the meeting that the college had to be maintained, and the expenditure was based on the number of free-place pupils at the beginning of the terms. Mr. Warburton observed that the Government should prepay the fees like other people. Mr. R. Lee held that some penalty should be attached. Mr. Brandon thought there should be deposited a terms fee in the case of free-place pupils. ilr. Lee thought this would hardly do in the case of free-place pupils. Mr. Brandon felt that the Government should reimburse the governors for the expenditure on such pupils. The governors should reserve their right to say, even to the Government, that their terms were cash in advance. Mr. Lee said the withdrawals were too bad. Miss Richmond held that it showed a great want of appreciation on the part of the public of the value of free places, and Mr. Lee agreed. It was decided to bring the matter Tinder the notice of the Government.