JUNIOR FREE PLACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21099, 5 February 1932, Page 8

JUNIOR FREE PLACES.

EXTENSION FOR A YEAR. ASSISTANCE FOR PARENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday.

The Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, announced to-day that it had been decided to allow pupils who had already held a junior free place for more than two years at a post-primary school, and who did not, at the end of last year, obtain a senior free place, either by recommendation or examination, to continue to hold their junior free places until the end of the current year. The Minister said this action had been taken in view of the grave difficulties confronting many parents under the present economic conditions. APPRECIATION OF POLICY. BOYS RETURNING TO SCHOOL. " This announcement will be greatly appreciated by all the parents whom it most closely concerns," said Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School. " The chief advantage is that the boys are much better occupied at school than idling about at home, and I estimate that more than 35 boys are affected from this school alone." He stated that it was the same procedure which had . been adopted bv the Government last year. It- should have tho effect of bringing back many more pupils to the school who had left after failing in their examinations. Mr. Mahon said the feo for tuition was £4 for each of the three terms, but if paid within 30 days it was reducible to £3 10s. This was in some cases too heavy for many to pay in these times. There would be a considerable saving to parents in Auckland.