Accommodation Service Works Hard

This is one of the facts which emerges from the report of the Accommodation Service of the Student Union.

The accommodation officer, Miss J. Allen, visits flats, boarding houses, and other possible living quarters for students. The principal consideration is study facilities, with heating, lighting and cleanliness following close behind. Accommodation which meets all the requirements is very scarce in Wellington.

Each year a list of vacant accommodation is published. The list this year covered 220 vacancies. Though this was apparently adequate to meet the demand. 50 per cent of the addresses were more than a mile from the University. Certain types of accommodation, for example, full board near the University, are very scarce. Fifty per cent of the available accommodation was graded as "Just adequate for the needs of University students."

The Accommodation Service found accommodation for 13 overseas students, only nine of whom actually arrived. This did not include Colombo Plan students, who are looked after by the External Affairs Department.

The report comments that if it was known at an earlier date than this year, how many overseas students had been excluded from Weir House, it would be able to help more.

An appendix to the report shows the cost of full board and bed-and-breakfast type accommodation has risen 10 to 15 per cent over the last year. Average prices are now £2/10/- per student for furnished flats or furnished rooms, £3/10/-for bed and breakfast, and £4 10 to £5 for full board.