EXAMINATION FEES

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24368, 21 September 1944, Page 4

EXAMINATION FEES

TEST CASE PROPOSED "M •‘'’meSSr DECISION OP UNIVERSITY;* STUDENTS" . The .intention of the New Zealand*,;*-, University Students’ Association ■proceed with a test case in the Sucjs||| preme Court against the Senate of University of New Zealand on thaM£ question of the increases in degreejß:; examination fees is reported by Mr E. Eggleton, president of the CanMwSg; bury University College Association, in a report of the annul meeting of the New Zealand elation, which is published in the Caa^^ 1 terbury University College papers “Canta.”-- The question . of the creases in fees was taken up ally by the New Zealand Students’ Association with the tor of Stabilisation early in May, was referred to the Price Tribunal In a statement to “The Press” pub-r: lished on June 28 the Commission said that a different sy tem was being introduced by the Sen* ate, but that the increase in fees de-> cided upon was undoubtedly too high. v The matter had accordingly been re-*. : ferred by the oommissjpn to the Price Tribunal, and an early pronouncement ' could be expected. ’ The Registrar of the University Of '' New Zealand (Mr I. F. McKenzie). stated on July 4 that the new scale of fees, which was introduced to d/sjVi’ tribute the costs of the university,. more fairly- among the different - ties and. to remove the fee for gradustion; as well as to meet the costs or university administration, had becH?-, under consideration for some years' and was finally passed by the Senate . at its meeting in January, 1943. Fees," at the new scale were paid for all on- .' tries closing on May 1, and were being ; > accepted for ientries closing on July . 1 10. At the request of the Price Tnbunal members of the Senate had been consulted, and it had been decided that all correspondence on this matter be considered at the next meeting of the executive committee called for July 28. ' Since then no announcement on the ■; subject has been made by the Senate or the Price Tribunal. j V “The whole case seems to hang on ; ' the point as to whether the University is performing a ‘service’ to students. by charging examination fees, and /on this opinions amongst the law fraternity differ,” says Mr Eggleton . in “Canta.” “If the Judge on the case decides in the affirmative on this point, the Senate is liable under the stabilisation laws, and it is the gen- : eral opinion that we have from a 40-80 to an even chance of success. One important point is that if we do sue- - ceed there is no lawful obligation on the part of the University to make any refunds for this year’s fees, but, that the University may feel morally bound to refund.”