UNIVERSITY FEES

Evening Star, Issue 17919, 15 March 1922, Page 6

UNIVERSITY FEES

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Advanced education is rapidly becoming as hard to obtain in New Zealand as it was in Bohemia in the days of Comenius. Every year makes it more difficult for the less wealthy in the community to attend that high place of knowledge, the University. Fees are increasing every year. In 1920 the, fee per subject was £3 3s; in 1921 this was increased to £3 10s; and now in 1922 the college fee has been increased from £1 5s to £2 10s. I am talcing three subjects. In 1920 this cost mo £ll 4s 6d; this year the same course will cost me £l3 iOs 6d—- an increase of more than 20 per cent. To further embarrass the students, some text books have still further increased in price, while, in addition to the fees above, a further examination fee of £2 2s must bo paid. I and my father are both working men, and in order to pay fees and to keep tho wolf away I have to work through the. wholo vacation a.nd also throughout the whole session. Study and other work do •not mix, and it is, of course, impossible for me to compete with, my more fortunate brethren; but when, in addition to this, the further discouragement of increased fees is given by tho University Council I am beginning to doubt my capacity to carry on at all'. What with the price of text books, tho increased fees, and the cost of lecture books, it will soon be impossible for the working man to attend 'Varsity. The time has come when the public of this land of ours should tiuui its attention to its heritage of education and renew the possibility of an education for all. The council, harassed by a parsimonious Government and by the clamoring of unsatisfied professors, is' no doubt doing its best to make both ends meet; but it has forgotten that other things than needy professors and finance aio at stake in its deliberations —'namely the student, and, what is moro important, the progress and the assimilation of knowledge. Tho University should be for all, and not reserved for those who can afford it. This is a question which affects not merely the student, but the community at large.—l am, etc., R. March 14,