THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9212, 15 April 1908, Page 3

THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL

A deputation representing the governing body of Canterbury College and the staff of the Girls' High School, headed by Mr G W. Russell fthunqiu of the Board of Governors) and Miss M. V. Gibson (Lady Principal), interviewed the Minister regarding the Girls Jlign School. . , ■ , Mr Russell said that they had come to make an appeal on behalf of the expenditure on the school . Ihe Department had granted £3000 for additions and furnishing, and already £3385 haa been expended, in addition to . £440 [0n. furnishing, leaving the Board with a deficit of £825. There was distempering to be done, and d sub-oommittee had decided that a further sum of £1W was absolutely necessary to put the place in proper working order. Mr Hogben had recently recommended that £200 more should b© spent to gain efficiency. The indebtedness was largely the result of the adoption of the free place system by the Board. In 1900 there were 166- .pupils, but the next year, when free places had be©n granted, the number had risen to 218, ot whom only 139 were paying pupils, llie expenditure had been necessary, and it was thought when the £3000 was granted that £600 would be left for furnishino-. The department had taken up tho attitude that anything spent over the grant should come out of the Board's funds. Mr Hogben's proposals regarding the alterations had spoilt the Board's idea of having £600 in hand. It could not take money from the College or Museum accounts and add it to the Girls' High School account. For years past the school had been running at a deficit, but last year a profit of £138 10s had been made — an unprecedented thing, and part had been used in raising the salaries of a tstaff that was greatly underpaid. It might bo argued that the school had a capital of £5000, but if one-fifth of that sum were taken for free places, the Board would lose £50 a year out of its capital. Had the Board known that the responsibility of furnishing would bo thrown on it, it would have brought tne total' cost within the sum allotted by the Government. MrJ.'L Scott said that the cost had been greatly increased to meet Mr Hogben's wishes, and the Board hod been given to understand that there would be no difficulty about funos, as the Government Avould increase the grant to what was necessary. Miss Gibson and Mr J. C. Adams also referred to Mr Hogben's suggestions. The Minister said that he had been surprised when the application for more money had come in. It would be a pleasant duty for him to say Oh! Yes; you may have it , but his difficulty, as Minister of Education was in. making the money he had meet applications for three times the amount he could use. It was a mistake to say that if money were taken out of capital it would reduce the income. In many oases a reduction of income would tend to increaso capitation, so that if, £50 were lost, they might got £70 or £80 as capitation at a certain point. Mr Russell: I hope you will not forget that we wore landed in this hole by your officer, Mr Hogben. Mr Fowlds continued that if a body were given money to build it was often expected to help a lifcblo itself. He

would, however, give the matter every consideration, and., if possible, would help the Board as soon as he could. The deputation thanked Mr Fowlde, and withdrew.