SCHOOL FEES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1933, Page 6

SCHOOL FEES

iMIXISTKK ANSWKRS STATEMENT

“WITHOUT FOUNDATION.”

WELLINGTON, March 7

Statements mad© by the principal of the Chriiitehlurch Technical College on the question of remission of fees in necessitous cases were contradicted by the Hon. K.. Masters* in an interview to-night. . * Mr Muster.-; said lie had seen newspaper reports of a. recent meeting of the Ciirishehiirc.'h Technical College Hoard, alien the question of remission of fee’s for technical school pupils in ifeeessitoils ease, s was discussed, and the principal was -reported to . .have said that ' fnll.v half the , applications iriade to the Minister were rejected. “Sin.ee. .the principle of, remisnimi was introduced in July, 1031,” said the Minister, “1 find that twenty recom-meii-cliitio'iis have keen rccqivej from Christchurch. Of these fourteen have been granted, only four declined and two are under consideration. It will he seen, therefore, that the principal's statement is , without foundation in fact.”" ■

In connection with the Hoard's contention that the granting of exemptions from payment of fees should he left- entirely to the pi-iinypal, continue] the Minister, it had to he remembered that the fees were imposed •by regulation and, went towards defraying the cost. of the school. The Minister was given control of the scale of foe”. The department itself had no- >’o wo'" to- vein it fees, and it was oni'V right that in a- matter affecting the public revenue and expenditure-, all decisions in this regard should bp ’'v-gW b* tte Minister.