‘No legal basis for high fees'

Press, 11 October 1979, Page 32

‘No legal basis for high fees'

PA Wellington! The Government does not have the legal authority to] implement its announced policy of charging certain overseas students 31.50'' year to study in New' Zealand. according to the Opposition members of Parliament for Christchurch Central. Mr G. W. R. Palmer. He said fees for students were set bv each university coun-i cil. There was nothing in the law which could force councils to charge some overseas students fees at one level and others at a level the same as New Zealand students, Mr Palmer said. “Apparently the Minister] is going to bludgeon the university versines to conform with his views by reducing their block grant by an amount equal to the increased fee for each student." Mr Palmer also said the proposed policy was contrary to the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. which had been ratified by the Government. Article five of the convention said that the right to education and training was guaranteed to everyone with- 1 out distinction as to race, colour or national or ethnic origin.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, (Mr Taiboys) seemed unaware of the implications] of this convention when I questioned him in Parliament,” Mr Palmer said. Mr Palmer made his remarks at the same time as Parliament’s Education Select Committee was hearing evidence in support of a petition] calling for the abolition of! the overseas student fee. | Evidence on behalf of a Christchurch university stud-! ent. Mr Daniel Ngieng “and] 11.000 others” was presented] by two New’ Zealand University Student’s Association members to the committee in closed session yesterday morning.