CO129-529-1 Diocesan Boys' School and Orphanage- appeal for money 2-1-1931 - 10-5-1932 — Page 66

2.

would at the same time enable it to start afresh without

any further assistance than would be given to it in the

usual way under the Grant Code. On the other hand even

if the loan were cancelled, it is probable that a further

request for financial assistance would sooner or later be

made in order to enable it to be developed as it should be

and to compensate its teaching staff adequately" (paragraph

28 of the petition).

4.

The proposal which was made to the School in

February of this year was that, subject to your approval,

Government should buy the buildings, payment also being

made for the cost of the site formation, approach road and

existing fittings, to a total value of $563,000. From

this sum were to be deducted the principal and all

outstanding charges of the loan. The balance would

have been sufficient to enable the School to re-establish

itself on a site to be granted to it free in the eastern

part of Victoria. The School would of necessity have had

to be conducted on more modest lines than it has been in the

past and the building proposals for the new premises would

have been carefully scrutinised by Government. The

School Committee however felt itself unable to accept this

offer on the grounds that it carried "a grave risk of

financial failure and loss of goodwill due to a breach of

faith with the many supporters of the School who subscribed

towards the cost of the present buildings". I do not

consider their reasons for refusing the offer to be sound.

Naturally the School would lose some of its pupils who

would not follow it across the harbour. On the other

hand I consider that the reputation of the School would be

enhanced

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