Public meetings on education cuts

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32542, 27 February 1971, Page 1

Public meetings on education cuts

(By our education reporter)

Public meetings to consider Government proposals to reduce spending on education will be held soon in all main centres of New Zealand—the first such in the Wellington Town Hall on Tuesday evening.

A significant feature of this meeting is that it has been arranged by a group of parents with financial support of more than $lOOO from educational organisations and members of the public. The meeting will be addressed by the president of the New Zealand Educational Institute (Mr H. M. Hunter), the president of the PostPrimary Teachers’ Association (Mr J. D. Murdoch), and the president of the New Zealand University Students’ Association (Mr D. B. C. Cuthbert). The Minister of Education (Mr Taiboys) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) have both been invited to the meeting. The proposed reduction in spending. on education will be discussed at the New Zealand University Students’ associations education conference in Hamilton this week-end where moves will be taken by organise the public meetings in other centres. The president of the N.Z.E.I. (Mr Hunter) told “The Press” last evening that it appeared there was growing opposition to the suggestion

i cuts in educational spend“The Minister of Finance ’ (Mr Muldoon) has talked i about holding departmental , expenditure to a 4 per cent increase on last year,” he said. “We see no reason why this should be applied evenly to all departments. “At a time of crisis, the • Government needs to estabf lisb its priorities, because I time lost in education will never be made up,” Mr • Hunter said. "UNITED OPPOSITION” • A united opposition to any I moves by the Government to reduce spending on educa- • tion was called for in Christ- • church last evening by the president of the Canterbury i Parent - Teacher Federation ’ (Mt J. P. Senior). • Commenting on the proi posals to reduce spending, now being considered by the i Government, Mr Senior said i that a consequence of such a ■ move would be to penalise ' future adults in order to com- • pensate for New Zealand’s i present mistakes. '■ “It is to be hoped that the - various organisations and i bodies concerned with education will resist the temptai tion to divide and defend the I cost of their own immediate : field at the expense of other ; levels and types of learning.” i Mr Senior said.

Only by presenting a united opposition to such reductions could interested parties begin to convince the Government of their insistence on a full, comprehensive education fo, their children, said Mr Senior. All educational organisations should insist on the Government undertaking long-term planning. "This should be of the seminar-type initially, so that all interested bodies can contribute," he said. “NOTICE OF INTENT”

The Government should say as soon as possible what arrangements were being undertaken on long-term planning. “It is safe to assume," Mr Senior said, “that the release of a prior “notice of intent’ to the public (on education reductions) means that the Government is now listening to public reaction, before deciding what to do. "We should leave the authorities in no doubt on this. I am confident that all the teaching and parent organisations will think and speak alike.”