State aid urged for Marylands

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 16

State aid urged for Marylands

The Marylands residential school for retarded boys was providing a unique service for the whole of New Zealand but was being used by the Government “on the cheap,” an executive meeting of the New Zealand School Committees’ Federation was told in Christchurch on Saturday.

Mrs M. A. Rae, a past president of the federation, said that as a private institution in urgent need of practical Government assistance the Marylands school must stand as a special exception to the federation’s policy which opposed extension of State aid to orivate schools. “This school is getting results and these are recognised by the State,” said Mrs B P. Hanson (Auckland) "The school has done everything to help itself and the time has now come for the State to meet its obligations, especially as the service of the school is open to all New Zealanders regardless of race, colour or creed.” It would be foolish, the executive agreed, for the State to allow the school to I close because of a shortage, of funds, thus robbing the' country of an invaluable service. “The place exists now— l

then why on earth should we not keep it open?” said Mr P. Hamlyn (Waikato). The executive agreed to consult the New Zealand Educational Institute and the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association regarding its attitude to assistance to Marylands from State funds. Nothing should be done which might impede an early Government decision on extra aid to keep the school open, it was agreed. The executive gave unanimous support to a resolution that “in the belief that the Marylands school is undertaking an educational function not performed elsewhere in New Zealand, and provided that it is in need of financial assistance, the federation recommends that the Government give favourable consideration to providing further assistance for the school."