£5/7/6 a week for board too much for Weir? The Registrar doesn't think so. "Look at all the advantages you get from living in Weir," he said. The fact is that more than one person has left Weir this year for a variety of reasons, but at least partially because of the high board rates. Students in flats nearby claim to be living quite comfortably for about £4/10/- a week—including beer.

What about subsidies? "Weir House is a real worry to us" said the Registrar, "but the place has to stand on its own feet. The Government won't let us spend one penny towards the maintenance of hostels."

When William Weir first made his bequest back in the 1920's, it seemed like a lot of money, but an unwilling government was soon forced into helping with a subsidy. However it sold out during the Depression when the house was half-built, and the proposed kitchen block was never built. As a result the kitchen facilities are crammed into the end of one wing, and are so badly organised that they require about twice the staff of an efficient kitchen. About 30 per cent, of the board goes to financing wage payments—another 40 per cent, pays for food.

Maybe things will get better when some additions are made to the House—economies of scale, etc.