HARDSHIP QUERIED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29683, 29 November 1961, Page 16

HARDSHIP QUERIED

Mr Tennent’s Views (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 28. The new scheme of university bursaries and the method of financing it by reductions in the block grants had been approved by the Government on the recommendation of the University Grants Commitee, and after careful study by the Govern men: itself, said the Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) in the House of Representatives today In reply to an urgent question by Mr M. A. Connelly (Opposition, Riecarton) In making its recommendations, the committee had in mind the encouragement of full-time study in universities and the rewarding of successful students by higher bursary allowances, so that the number of graduates coming from the universities would be increased, said Mr Tennent “Any hardship for feepaying students as a consequence of the authority given to the universities to treble fees is likely to be small m comparison with the benefits which those students may earn as a result of their university education. la any case ft is certainly not greater than was the hardship on the student* in 1928 when fee* were set at the present level," said Mr Tennent. “The Government is satisfied the new bursary system together with the increased tuition fees, is to the interests of effective university education, and of the country as i whole, and ft does not think any good purpose would be served by the reopening of the whole matter as suggested."