STATE AID CONFERENCE

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33230, 21 May 1973, Page 3

STATE AID CONFERENCE

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 20.

Thirty-six submissions have been received by the Education Department for the Government-sponsored conference on State aid to private schools this week.

Six of the submissions come from bodies generally concerned with education — the Education Boards’ Association, the Secondary School Boards’ Association, the Educational Institute, the PostPrimary Teachers’ Association, the School Committees’ Federation, and the ParentTeacher Association. Five came from six bodies concerned with private schools — the Roman Catholic Education Boards and the National Council of Catholic Education (joint submission), the Church of England Governing Bodies’ Association, the Heads of Independent Schools Association, the Inter-denominational Committee of Independent Schools, and the Presbyterian Board of Education. All these bodies were invited to the conference by the Minister of Education (Mr Amos), who will be chairman.

The other 25 submissions come from the general public, who were invited to make written submissions. OPEN TO PUBLIC

Three days this week, Tuesday to Thursday, have been set aside for the con-

ference, which will include the hearing of submissions, questions and debate.

Two Government and two Opposition M.P.s will attend the discussions, which in part at least will be open to the public and the press.

Mr Amos said the conference terms of reference would be:

To consider the preserit forms of State aid to private schools. To consider the views of organisations represented at the conference and any other views which might be submitted by interested parties. To consider the interests of pupils in State and private schools.

Delegates will probably be called back to Wellington later to make final decisions on matters raised at the conference.