In the morning Mr W. S. Fitzgerald addressed the Synod on behalf of St Margaret's College Committee, of which he is convener. Mr Fitzgerald thanked the Synod for giving its committee an opportunity of stating what had been done during the past year.
The committee of St Margaret's College was at work for the benefit of the country at large, and especially for the country districts. It worked in the interests of the women students coming to the city to attend the Training College and the University.
In the meantime the idea of the Training Institute availing itself of what opportunities they had to offer was in abeyance. Indeed, as they stood they could not ask the institute to join with them, but he hoped to see that the college would be for the three parties - the Training Institute for deaconesses and foreign missionaries, the Teachers' Training College, and the University.
After long search and careful deliberation the committee had found what it considered an ideal site for this college. this was the half-acre that belonged to the Presbyterian Church of Otago, and on which was situated the Theological College Manse.
If they were to search Dunedin through and through they could not possibly get a site as well adapted to their purpose as was this one. They had secured a lease of it at a rental of £75 with rates, and had come under an obligation to purchase it at the end of two years for the sum of £2000.
He had to ask them now to assist the committee financially in its endeavours to provide for the women students who were coming from the country to our University. They intended to give them not only a comfortable and well-situated dwelling, but they had gone further and had secured the services of Miss Callander, a lady well known in dealing with young women.
They had now in the building students of different subjects, representing, for instance, education, medicine, arts, and domestic science. - ("Hear, hear.") They hoped to have in the institution not simply all facilities for successful study, but to have it pervaded by a good strong Christian spirit.
• The county surfacemen to the number of 13 asked the Clutha County Council on Friday for an increase in pay of 1s per day.
They pointed out that the nature of their work necessitated keeping horses and traps, and at the present exorbitant price of horse feed it was impossible to keep a horse for less than 7s per week - that is, considering the cost of shoeing and upkeep of trap and harness.
They said it must also be apparent to the council that the wages they were receiving was not in keeping with the general standard of wages ruling amongst the average of working men who were not compelled to incur the expense of keeping horses and traps.
They also pointed out that the increased cost of living was becoming more oppressive every year to the working man with a limited income.
It was decided that the petition be referred to the engineer as to the efficiency of surfacemen in the various ridings, and also to give their age with a view to retiring the old men and non-efficients, members of ridings to be consulted before any surfaceman is discharged. - ODT, 13.4.1911
