ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20582, 4 December 1928, Page 10

ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

PROGRESS IN WELLINGTON. ABOLITION OP FEES SYSTEM, (Pee United Peess AssociateWELLINGTON, December 3. At a recent meeting of the Wellington Roman 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 60 years ago. Sixteen years ago. recognising that the Catholics were suffering hardships in not only haying to provide land and buildings Cor their schools, but in also having to support them by paying school fees, a trust board was formed with the object of creating a capital fund, the interest from which, aided by a Sunday penny collection 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 six primary schools in sis Wellington parishes. The Wellington Trust, which was established in 1912, is the only one of its kind in New Zealand and Australia. It commenced without a penny. To-dav it possesses a capital fund of over £28d)00. and, in addition, during the 16 years it has maintained schools involving an expenditure of £II,OOO, of which £7OOO went to meet the deficiencies in the school fens of children whose parents were unable to r»nr.