BOYS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16621, 18 August 1917, Page 5

BOYS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

HOSTEL NOT YET FEASIBLE. The question of the erection of a boarding establishment in connection with the Auckland Boys' Grammar School on similar lines to the Christchurch Boys' High School hostel, opened last week, was referred yesterday to Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman of the Grammar School Board. " This is a matter which the board has discussed many times," he said. *' and a site has been reserved on the grounds of the *iew school at Mount Eden tor the erection of one or more boardinghouses for the pupils. At present we are not in a position financially to go ahead, with the scheme, however. The cost of the new school itself has not been liquidated, and at the end of last year, owing to the increase in the number of pupils attending the Girls' Grammar School, we had to undertake , the building of a new school at Epsom, in which no assistance was received from the Government." It was further stated by Professor Thomas that, by a regulation issued under the Education Act, no part of the endowment fund could be used in connection with the maintenance of a boarding establishment; part of it might, perhaps, be used for building purposes, but not for expenses in connection with the upkeep. " The maintenance of such establishments is a very expensive matter, especially at the present time, remarked the professor, ' and for this reason the board could not possibly go ahead with any such scheme just now. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that a large majority of boys live at home, either in "the city or suburbs, or in districts from which thev can travel by rail, the number of boys boarding away from home being comparatively small."