Committee Plans Big Compaign For Building Fund.

At the meeting of the Building Committee held on the 23rd February, two reports were considered dealing with, firstly, the requirements of the proposed building and, secondly, how the necessary funds can be raised.

The new building is to be erected where the present gymnasium stands. It will be a four-storied edifice comprising facilities the provision of which has been sadly overlooked in the past. Chief among these will be the Assembly Hall wherein will take place General Meetings, Dramatic Club shows and Debating Society meetings. Possibly, too, it will be used for the bigger University functions such as Capping and the Plunket Medal Contests. A College Hall has long been lacking at Victoria and we look forward to the early realization of this ideal. There is also space in the suggested layout for a Cafeteria, Business Rooms, and more especially Common Rooms. These latter deserve special mention, for, besides the men's and women's rooms, there is to be a lounge or, virtually, a Common-Common Room which is at the present time a very definite necessity.

Plans For Raising Funds.

Of course, the all-important question is. how is such a plan as this to be financed? A second sub-committee has investigated this aspect of the scheme and, briefly, their proposals are these: At present there is £1,684 5s. 7d. on hand. With a view to augmenting this sum sufficiently to begin work at an early date the Government is to be appealed to for half the cost of the building, £20,000, or failing this, a smaller grant together with a pound for pound subsidy.

At the same time there will be instituted a direct appeal to all students who have passed through Victoria and to those citizens of Wellington who are interested in the College as a cultural centre. No such widespread appeal has so far been made in the history of the Building Fund and in view of the more favourable post-depression outlook the time seems propitious for the launching of such an ambitious scheme.

Besides anticipated profits from University activities, there is a life assurance endowment plan. This consists in contributors taking out life assurance policies and assigning them to the Trustees of the Fund, thus providing capital on which a loan could be raised in a short time.

The entire conception of the Building and the financial campaign has been exhaustively and enthusiastically considered by the committee and they merit encouragement. It is encumbent upon us as students at Victoria in 1937 to do our part in the organisation work which is immediately ahead.