Student protest over $l500 fee

Press, 26 November 1979, Page 7

Student protest over $l500 fee

i PA Wellington The University Students' Association has sent an open letter to all members of Parliament criticising clause 2 of the Education Amendment Bill which proposes next year to introduce a $l5OO---year fee for private overseas students. The Association was disgusted by inaccuracies in statements made by Government members during the debate on the introduction of the bill, the associ-1 ation’s president (Mr C. J. Gosling) has said. “It is quite clear that no research has been done, or consultation entered into, and the Government has admitted this,” Mr Gosling said, "but still Government members persist in raising the same baseless arguI tnents.” I The association hoped that the letter, which assesses the arguments raised by the Government, would show members some of the facts surrounding the issue. “We can only hope that members will realise the great injustice being done,[ and the potential effect on New Zealand," Mr Gosling’ said. “Failure to do so wilfi reflect badly on this Govern- 1 ment and the legislative process.” In its open letter, the association said it had repeatedly challenged the Government, since the an-

nouncement of the fee measure six months ago, to produce evidence of its assertion that private overseas students come from wealthy backgrounds. “Tne nature of their research on this issue becomes clear when the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) admits that his knowledge of this subject is based on his experience from teaching a few overseas students in high school. These can number no more than a dozen." lit said. I The association again challenged the Government to produce evidence that private overseas students in New Zealand came from wealthy backgrounds. The only available indications, including that of university counsellors, reflected the opposite view, it said. In Palmerston North yesterday the Vice-Chancel-lor of Massey University (Dr A. Stewart) said most universities were concerned that the bill introduced to legalise the $l5OO tuition fee overrode university acts. “I think all universities are concerned that such a [bill should have been introduced without consultation,” he said. 1 Dr Stewart said he was also concerned that the bill did not mention the sum of $l5OO — a sum that is mentioned in the explanatory notes to the bill but not in the bill itself. __