M.P. urges action on student bursaries

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 20

M.P. urges action on student bursaries

Something had to be done regarding bursaries for tertiary students with proven needs, said the member of Parliament for New Lynn (Mrf J. L. Hunt) in Christchurch.

Mr Hunt, deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a frequent commentator on educational matters before the Labour Party was elected to power in 1972, made his comment in an interview after addressing students at the secondary division of the Christchurch Teachers’ College. He once thought the proposal to set up a standard bursary scheme for all tertiary students a simple matter, he said — but the problem of student bursaries was more complex than many imagined. “There is a need for some relief at the moment for some students, and this need will be met,” he said. There were, however, many other people in the j community in need of assist-' ance; and if, for example, a’ standard bursary scheme j were introduced, it would ’

allow more students to live away from home, perhaps in flats. This would put a strain on the provision of housing. “There are definite areas of need for tertiary students,” said Mr Hunt. “The way to move may be to give assistance to several types of students first before introducing a standard bursary scheme.” In the initial stages, there might have to be some form of means test to establish who should be given special financial assistance. “For example, women students who live away from a city in which there is a tertiary institution would be a special case,” Mr Hunt said.

■ “The next category might be male students who live outside such an area. It would then be necessary to exam- ' ine the needs of all students I who for various reasons live away from home. ’ “Government action may (have to take these steps, but we hope to see the whole ! matter clarified this year,” he said. 1 Tertiary students had to ; recognise that in speaking of a standard tertiary bursary i there was not common I ground among all students, las their needs differed according to personal circumstances. It disturbed him, Mr Hunt said, that many university I students were from predominantly wealthy suburbs. “This is the first step towards creating a class structure. Al) students who, should have university or other tertiary education I must be given that chance”) he said.