EVERY FACILITY

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 118, 15 November 1945, Page 6

EVERY FACILITY

SERVICEMEN'S EXAMS

UNIVERSITY COURSES

"I would like the university authorities to know that the House would wish them to extend every possible opportunity to returned men as frequently as is necessary," said the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon when discussing the question of examination facilities for*returned servicemen. He added that he did not want anything he said on the question to be taken as a reflection on the willingness of the university authorities to assist returned men.

A short discussion arose as a result of a written reply by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) to a question asked by Mr. R. M. Algie (National, Remuera). Mr. Algie had asked if it would be possible to arrange matters so that the special university examinations for returned men could be taken by any members of the forces irrespective, of the date of return from overseas. He pointed out that the privileges now being granted applied only to men who had returned to New Zealand since September 1 last. TIME LIMIT EXPLAINED. ; The Minister's reply was to the effect that the study of men who had returned on or after September 1 had been so interrupted that it would be unreasonable to require them to sit at normal examination times. The usual examination dates would allow men who returned prior to September 1 at least some months' residence in New Zealand before presenting ,themselves for examination. Commenting on the reply Mr. Algie said that everything possible should be done for the returned men, especially if assisting them would not affect anyone else. .He thought men who came back before September 1 should _"_£ fissist&d Mr. Jones then explained that following the preparation of the written reply he had again been in touch with the university authorities and he had been told that the executive committee of the Senate would be meeting on November 23 and would take into consideration again whether men who returned before September 1 would be able to sit the special examinations. He had dso asked if men who failed in previous examinations could sit the special examinations, and the reply had been that such cases could be submitted to the; War Concessions Committee so that war concession passes could be granted if warranted.