Change in benefits

Press, 16 June 1988, Page 14

Change in benefits

Sir,—You have recently published two letters where the parity of the money grant to

students is questioned. I think that education is the key to most of our problems — health, violence, racism,. unemployment — as well as our economic wellbeing. In money terms alone, there is no other investment that will return a better dividend to the Government. I wish student grants were increased, but at the same time I wish that. students realised just how much they receive indirectly, by virtue of their studentship. Each student is an expensive part of a multimillion dollar set-up, and costs the taxpayer many thousands of dollars a year. Certainly the unemployed receive more in the hand, but where is the wellbeing, the satisfaction, and the future career that the student experiences and anticipates? Except for the very sick, our students are probably the highest individual recipients of Government aid in our society. — Yours, etc., (Mrs) H. J. HADFIELD. June 11, 1988.