Limit Proposed For Salary Subsidies

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32108, 2 October 1969, Page 19

Limit Proposed For Salary Subsidies

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, September 30. In the event of the Government subsidising private schools, there should be an understanding that a private school should lose the subsidy in respect of any teacher paid a salary above what he could expect in a State school, the Labour candidate for Eden, Professor K. Sinclair, said this afternoon when addressing Auckland University students.

Professor Sinclair said he agreed with the argument of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) that standards must be improved in manyindependent schools. “But I there is a danger that the wealthy private schools will iuse the staff subsidies promised by Labour to recruit from State schools at better wages," he said.

“The new policy announced by Mr Kirk is that teachers in independent schools would be paid at half State rates

according to State staffing schedules,” he said.

“This would prevent independent schools from achieving smaller classes than those in State schools, at State expense.”

The new policy was an interim measure.' He emphasised that the issue should be looked at from a secular, not religious, point of view.