Labour’s School Policy

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 26

Labour’s School Policy

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 16. “Parents have the right to chose the education their children receive, and the Labour Party recognises that some independent schools cannot carry on much longer without assistance,” says a supplied statement, issued today on behalf of Mr R. J. Tizard, M.P. for Pakuranga.

The statement was made at a Labour Party discussion on education, held in Mount Albert yesterday afternoon. “1 accept the fact that the State school system is unable to take up the extra burden that might be thrown upon it,” Mr Tizard said. The Labour Party was looking at the problem of aid on the basis that each child was entitled to the same quality of education without regard to the decision his parents made about the school he attended. “Therefore, when the State system is working toward smaller classes, equality does not exist if non-State pupils must remain in over-large classes,” he said. “Our aim is for grants, subsidies and supplies of equipment to be on the same basis per pupil. It includes capitation grants, scaled to the needs of different age groups in the schools, but excludes direct grants for buildings and salaries. It does not exclude any of the present forms of aid.” The statement added that Mr J. L. Hunt, member of Parliament for New Lynn, emphasised that money made available to independent schools would be in addition to funds provided for State education.

“Believing as it does that more money should be spent on State education services, the Labour Party would never

agree to, take money from this source. Aid would be fin- ■ anced over and above our commitments to the State sys- , tem,” Mr Hunt said. Mr W. W. Freer, member , of Parliament for Mount Albert, said that if a Labour Government were elected in November it would call a conference early in the New Year of representatives of all education groups, to hammer out a basis of permanent assistance to independent schools.

“Unless this is done, the present unsatisfactory position will continue indefinitely, whereas I believe such a conference could agree to a fair basis of capitation for existing independent schools,” the statement said. Budget Discussion.—The Cabinet yesterday spent “virtually the whole morning” discussing the Budget, which will be presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) on Thursday, June 26.—(P.A.).