UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 18

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

“Labour Would Reduce Fees” ( AI.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, March 8. No actual decision has been made, but he could give an assurance that when Labour became the government it would reduce university fees, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Skinner) told a Waitaki by-election meeting in Oamaru. Mr Skinner, who was replying to a question, described the recent increase as most unfair. He said the fees had been very low but the increase was far too much, fees ■being three, times as high as they were a year ago. Many students were now unable to finish partly completed degrees and long-term students had also been hit hard, except in the cases where parents were able to make a contribution. Principle Wrong It was, he said, tending to confine university and college education to a class of those who could afford it. This was wrong in principle. Mr Skinner said Labour had made education cheaper so that the labourer’s son would have just as much chance as the wealthy man’s son. “We have not decided on any particular line of action, but we want to continue to make education available to every youngster who has the brains and ability to take advantage of it." he said. "It should not be measured in £ s d.”