FREE PLACE SCHOLARS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6678, 28 November 1908, Page 10

FREE PLACE SCHOLARS

LACK OF ACCOMMODATION FOR. GIRLS. COLLEGE GOVERNORS AND THE GOVERNMENT. While ample accommodation • has boon provided for “free place” boys passing; out of the primary schools in Wollincfton to tho secondary schools, no such provision has been made for tho girls. At a meeting of tho Board of Governors of Wellington College in September last tho following resolution was passed:— That tho consideration of electing to come under section 93 as far as tho Girls’ College is concerned bo postponed until the board receives somo indication of tho extent to which the Government will go in supplementing tho resources of the Girls’ College, and that the Inspec-tor-General of Schools bo so informed. Yesterday tho question was further considered by tho Governors, tho secretary (Mr C. P. Powles) stating that no reply had been received from the Government touching tho board’s representations on tho question. A SERIOUS MATTER. Mr R. Loo: I wish to say that tho question of finding proper accommodation for tho girls in Wellington is just now a very serious matter, and wo have made the best offer we can as a Board of Governors to tho department. It is very desirable wo should know — both for ourselves and tho Education Board, which I represent—what is tho intention of the Government regarding froo-placo pupils. Tho nest' high school for tho boys will bo opened in January next or tho beginning of February, and tho girls will all be compelled to go to Newtown district high school, and it is not desirable that the Newtown public school should be burdened with all tho girls for any length of time. The accommodation for the girls should be equal to that provided for the boys, and the board is very anxious that the , Government should help it out of tho difficulty. It is a Government matter pur© and simple. Tho chairman (Mr A. do B. Brandon) : We are not looking to; the Government to help us out of tho difficulty. GIRLS SHOULD BE ATTENDED TO. Mr Leef You may put it so. From an educational point of view tho public expect that the girls should receive as much attention as tho boys. The Education Board is not charged with secondary education at all. Tho Board of College Governors has its own high school to maintain, and to meet the public convenience the board made representations to the Government in regard to increased accommodation for the “free place” pupils. The chairman said that the giving of effect to the board’s request would mean a considerable grant to the building funds. Having in view the events of the last couple of months it could easily be realised how it was they hs'.. not been able to get the Minister t' move. Mr Lee still persisted that there had been too much delay on the part of the Government. Tie chairman said tho hoard had to

recognise that there were sound reasons for the delay. Mr Lee admitted that the affairs of Government had no doubt caused tho delay; but tho fact remained that a letter had been forwarded to the Government soon after tho meeting of the board two months ago, and there had been no reply. NOT UP TO DATE. This ended the matter, no motion being put to the mooting, but subsequently Air Leo mentioned tho matter ; of the girls’ school. Ho said _it ; needed remodelling and reconstructing ( throughout and making up to date. If tho Government wished to do anything ’ for higher education they had now an ' opportunity to put tho girls’ school on * a thoroughly good footing, the same i as had been done for the boys, i Tho chairman: The arrangements at tho girls’ school aro all right. Mr Lee said that was not so. Tho \ school was in many respects out of ’ date, and tho class-rooms, etc., oould I not be compared with what was pro--5 vidod for the boys. Tho school was 1 not properly furnished. Even tho ‘ desks were not good.