STATE AID TO SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26987, 12 March 1953, Page 10

STATE AID TO SCHOOLS

EXTENSION AGAIN OPPOSED I COMMITTEES’ FEDERATION DECISION (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH. March 10. A motion reaffirming its strongest , opposition of any extension of tinan- : cial assistance to schools operating ■ outside the State system, was carried unanimously today by the Dominion : conference of the New Zealand School .Committees’ Federation.

Mr W. J. Wilson (Wellington), mover; lof the remit, said: “What we must do: lis to serve notice year by year on those who are seeking to break down the present State system. The campaign for setting up schools operating outside the State system is becom-f ing more and more intensified. I have [ no objection whatsoever to any group > ; cf people establishing a school of their ■ own outside the State system, pro- j vided they are w-illing to bear the cost] •of that school. But if they do that • they have no right whatever to go j !to the state and say, ‘Look what we (have done. We have relieved you of, | part of the burden.’ I hope the remit! j will again be carried unanimously, as ■it has been at five previous confer- ’ 1 ences.” There was no discussion on the' remit. Another remit carried read: “That! the conference reaffirms its support of] : the existing system of free, coinpul-; ■ sory, and secular education, with the I provision that it approves of the Nelson system of voluntary religious instruction. as any departure from the! . present procedure would probablyj ' have the effect of weakening the case; against State aid to private schools.”!