CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 5, 4 December 1928, Page 7

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

ABOLISHING THE FEES. DECISION OF~WELLINGTON TRUST BOARD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 3. At a recent meeting of the Wellington Catholic Education Trust Board it was decided to abolish the system of school fees which has been in operation since the establishment of the Catholic education system 50 years ago. Sixteen years ago, recognising that Catholics were suffering hardships in not only having to provide land and buildings for their schools, but in also having to support them by paying school fees, the Trust Board was formed. The object was the creation of a capital fund, the interest from which, added by Sunday penny collections and various functions, would be sufficient to maintain the schools for all time without the necessity of collecting fees. The board is now in a position to abolish the fees. The system will apply to the six primary schools in the six Wellington parishes. The Wellington Trust, established in 1912, is the only one of its kind in New Zealand and Australia. It commenced without a penny; to-day it possesses a capital fund of over £28,000 and, in addition, during the sixteen years has maintained schools involving an expendi ture of 81j.,000, of which .£7OOO vent to meet the deficiencies in the school fees of children whose parents were unable to pay.