COLLEGE GOVERNORS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 7

COLLEGE GOVERNORS

MEETING OF THE BOARD

QUESTION OF A SURCHARGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors 'of the Wellington College and Girls' High School was held to-day. Present: Messrs W. F. Ward (chairman), B. Darroch, W. H. Field, M.P., and W. H, Denton. Mrs. E. W. Kane took her seat as a member of the board, and was welcomed by the chairman. The monthly report of the headmaster of the Boys' College showed the roll number to be 782; and the number of boarders 65, of whom eight are weekly and four day boardersMr. Cresswell said that in his last report he recommended the promotion pf Mr. Cuddie and of Mr.' Thornton, tie suggested that the promotions date from the beginning of the first term, sth February. There being now another vacancy owing to Mr. Morice's resignation, Mr. Cresswell recommended the promotion of Mr. F. Joplin to that position. All the vacancies had been duly advertised.

The promotions and appointments recommended by Mr. Cresswell were ap' proved. ' !

"WELLINGTONIAN" SURCHARGE.

The board having failed to get any satisfactory reply from Cabinet, and being pressed for payment of the "Wellingtonian" surcharge, Mr. Cresswell said hi had forwarded a cheque for the full amount with costs, £171 15s. He said that of course the school could not think for one minute of throwing the liability on to the individual members of the board; but it would at tho same time be readily understood how this payment, for which no provision had been made, would embarrass the school funds. He therefore asked the board to consider the propriety of restoring the contribution of '£75 per annum to the games fund, which contribution was regularly given in Mr. Firth's day, and which was reduced by one-half in 1921. There was no doub^ he said, about the board having authority to make this increased contribution.

Some discussion arose on the question of the right of the board to pay the money out of the games fund. Mr. Darroch opposed the payment of the money out, of the games fund. The chairman said the money had to be paid, and he moved that the suggestion of Mr. Cresswell be adopted. He remarked that the amount which had been surcharged by the Auditor-General was really a publication in respect to which the old boys were partly or mainly responsible. The motion was agreed to. KEEPING SEPARATE ACCOUNTS.

Some discussion arose on the, question of the proper designation of the Girls' High School. The chairman remarked that the Boys' College was founded under that name and the Girls'' High School under that name. He suggested that the Department be asked if there would be any legal difficulty in changing the name of the Girls' High School to the Wellington Girls' College. It was pointed out that many years ago it was agreed that the Girls' High School should in future be known as the Wellington Girls' College. The title was a courtesy title, but in legal documents the original name had to be retained urrtil a legal change in the name was made.

Mr. Denton drew attention to a letter which had appeared in "The Evening Post" asking the position of the respective amounts expended under certain headings on the Boys' and the Girls' Colleges. The chairman replied that the position had already been explained and published, and added that he did not consider it necessary to deal further with the question. Mr. Denton raised the question of keeping separate accounts for the two colleges. Mrs. Kane asked if the accounts were not kept separate. In reply to a question, the secretary said that the "incidentals" and "hostels" accounts were, kept separate, and separate statements had been sent in to -the . Education Dep&rtnieut.