STATE AID TO SCHOOLS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28445, 27 November 1957, Page 9

STATE AID TO SCHOOLS

“Case More Alive Than Ever”

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 26.

The case for State aid to private schools was now “more alive than ever,” the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland (Archbishop Liston) told an audience of about 600 at the prize-giving ceremony at St. Peter’s School last night. Commenting on an announcement of the Prime Minister (Mr ftolyoake) that the Mater Misericordiae Hospital would benefit by a loan of £235.000 for a maternity wing. Archbishop Liston said he agreed with Mr Holyoake that “private hospitals made a very valuable contribution to the welfare of New Zealand.”

He asked, however, why there should be discrimination—“ Can’t the same be said of other things, schools for instance?”

Archbishop Liston said the case for State aid to private schools was now “more alive than ever.” The petition to Parliament last year had seemed to be “buried for all time” and some had thought the issue would never arise again, he said. They were wrong.

He had never known persons to be so moved—“moved to action”—over a cause, and they were putting their case before, everyone who presented himself for political honours. Archbishop Liston added: “I am sure you parents who love your children, and love your school, will never drop this issue now that it has been brought to the front, the political forefront of this country.”