HOUSING STUDENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 59

HOUSING STUDENTS

PROPOSED EXTENSIONS TO ST. MARGARET’S COLLEGE.

A special meeting of the Board of Governors of St. Margaret’s Residential College was held at First Church cn Thursday afternoon to consider a proposal to raise a large sum of money for the purpose of extending the college premises. The Chairman of the board, Mr H. K. Wilkinson, presided. The treasurer, Mr \V. Gow, who was unable to be present, wrote notifying receipt of two anonymous donations, one of £SOO and one of £l5O for the new buildings. The first instalment of these gifts would be paid when the foundation stone was laid. The Chairman, at the outset, briefly outfined the history of St. Margaret’s College. The late Mr W. S. Fitzgerald was the moving spirit in connection with its establishment, The total cost of the college has been as follows:—Building and property, £11,729; adjoining cottage, £1400; furniture, £1296. The college accommodated 78 boarders. The total receipts from subscriptions amount to £6921. Much oi this sum was due to the energy and efforts of Lady Ross and Mrs Gibb, who have been active members of the board since April, 1917. There is at the present time a debt, of approximately £7OOO on the property. This debt need no longer be looked upon as a burden as under the present management this could be carried without any difficulty. The need for further accommodation was exceedingly urgent. Quite a number of students were prevented from coming to Dunedin from all parts of New Zealand to continue their scholastic career because they found it impossible to get suitable boarding accommodation. It was only St. Margaret's College. A medical man bad told him that he had known girls getting lodgings m places quite unfitted for the ' carrying on of their studies. He had known them develop consumption nnd die. this being due, in the doctor's opinion, to the fact that they were not properly housed and had not proper opportunities for carrying on their studies. lie recommended the proposal to extend the accommodation of the college to their favourable consideration. Tlie Rev. J. Kilpatrick said that if tho chairman and Mr Gow were satisfied on the point the increased accommodation was evidently necessary. Other members of the committee said there could be no doubt whatever about the necessity for the proposed extensions. The Chairman, in answer to questions, said the extensions w-ould cost considerably more than £IO,OOO. There was no immediate prospect of tbe Government taking lip the matter of having a hostel for Training College students. He considered that the proposed extensions would require to accommodate some 30 students. It would not be run as oqe, but as two separate houses, with total accommodation for at least. 150. Mr Henderson reported on properties about which he had made inquiries, and it was decided to resume consideration of the matter at another special meeting to be called.