Playcentres oppose Government control

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33539, 21 May 1974, Page 16

Playcentres oppose Government control

(New Zealand Press Association' AUCKLAND. Playcentres are determined to steer dear of any Government control of their organisation.

At the annual conference of the New Zealand PlayCentre Federation, 85 delegates discussed the implications of a take-over of kindergarten teacher training by the Education Department. “Our autonomy is sacred,” said Mr D. I. H. Hoskins, president of the federation. ] The conference unani-i mouslv opposed the concept that play centres were for children aged between two and three before they went to kindergarten. “Parents have the choice of sending their children to either a play centre or a kindergarten. Each one caters for a continual progression of education,” said Mr Hoskins.

The conference emphasised the need for negotiations between the federation and the Government. “As we depend on Government finance for building programmes, we must obey Government stipulations. One is that play centres must be open six half-days a week. In some rural areas this is impractical, so they cannot apply for building aid,” said Mr Hoskins. The use of school buses is wanted mainly in rural areas, to take children and parents to play centres. Mr Hoskins said: “No preschool session runs for more than three hours, so we would like the use of the buses, and their drivers where available, while they are not in use.”