Policy promise invalid

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33958, 26 September 1975, Page 10

Policy promise invalid

Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 25

The Government’s decision to force the Private Schools Conditional Integration Bill through Parliament contradicted its policy promise to find a fair and just solution to the problem of State aid to independent schools, the Opposition spokesman on education (Mr L. W. Gandar) said today.

He was commenting on the Government’s majority decision in the Education Select Committee to hear no further evidence on the Bill and to proceed with deliberations after September 24.

The Minister had said that irrespective of the resultant amendments, the Bill would be passed, immediately and without further consultation with interested parties.

“No school or association which might have contemplated integration has given even qualified approval to the proposed Bill. The Education Boards’ Association, while in favour of the principle, has gone further and said its attitude would be one of ‘hostility’ if the Bill was rushed through this session.”

He said that this statement was important when it was remembered that education boards would take over a large measure of responsibility for integrating schools.

“The last three years of discussion might have borne fruit if they could have continued without this inordinate haste,” Mr Gandar said.