THE COLLEGES

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1922, Page 8

THE COLLEGES

EXCLUSION OF PUPILS

OFFER TO FOREGO FREE PLACES.

Accommodation at the Wellington Collego and tho Girls' College, and the exclusion of Hutt Valley pupils, were matters dealt with by tho principals in their reports to tho monthly mooting of the College Board of Governor? to-day. "Tho Minister has now decided definitely and finally that all each pupils shall be excluded," stated Mr. T. B. Cresswell, headmaster of Wellington Colloge. "■ I think I need not travorse the whole course of the negotiations in which tho Minister, the Director, tho board, the headmaster, and tho parents of pupils were all involved; Some of the parents of tho Hutt Valley were so" anxious to get their boys admitted that they have offered to forego the free place and send their boys as either jpaying pupils or boarders. This proposition, I submftted to the Director, who refuses to allow the request. I am of opinion tfiat the possibility of such a request—viz., to forego a freo place—was never contemplated, and that the case is unprovided, for in tho regulations. I may conclude by saying that all the parents whom, I have seen or had written communication with have declared themselves fully satisfied that I have done what I could in the interests'of their boys."

Position of boarders. When making that report the hostel at Wellington College .was full, but since then two boys have been withdrawn owing to ill-health. Mr. Cresswell advised further that applications for the vacant places wore made by pupils from the Hutt Valley. In one case the father had sold his house at Hutt, and would i have another address from tho Ist March. Permission to admit the boys as boarders was refused. "One of the boys," said Mr. Cresswell, "is being sent to Pahnerston North as a boarder. The board, loses a very considerable sum of money in consequence, as it is naturally the last few boarders who are most profitable. I fancy the action of the Department in controlling the admission of boarders is an flinovation." /

The board, in considering the report, decided to ascertain from the Department the authority for the. action taken in regard to boarders. '

Mr. T. R. Cresswell reported that the total number on the roll was 771, of whom 242 were, new pupils. The number- of new pupils wa6 smaller than last year, which was due in part to the exclusion of Hutt Valley pupils, while the number of last year's pupils who have returned was unusually large.

INCREASE OF GIRL PUPILS.

Reference to the attendance and accommodation at the Girls' College was made by Miss M'Lean, .headmistress, in her report to the board. "Though the Hutt and Petone girls were excluded by the Department this year, the',attendance exceeds by nearly 30 the attendance of last year, when all were admitted. The attendance is 750, as against 723 last year, when 46 girls of the Hutt Valley were admitted. The present total consists of 473 girls who returned and 277 new girls." This attendance, Miss. M'Lean stated, showed the necessity of having the Sydney-street schoolroom for the year, unless the board had other plans in view for placing the extra classes. The Sydney-street schoolroom had at present four Jal»*e classrooms with 115 pupils. Without that building (or an equivalent) the college would be four class-rooms short. Five rooms which were being built •at the college would accommodate about 17S children. " . > /

The chairman (Mr. W. F. Ward) stated that a definite decision had been made to close the Sydney-street schoolroom at the end of April. Whether they had too many children or not, accommodation would have,to be found for them' in the college.