SECTARIAN SCHOOLS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 25 November 1935, Page 5

SECTARIAN SCHOOLS

No Government Grant

CHANGE OF POLICY DENIED

QUERY BY ORANGE LODGE

(Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Legislation Committee of the 'Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand recently telegraphed to the Prime Minister inquiring whether there was a possibility that the Government s attitude in opposition to State aid to sectarian schools might be changed, and drawing attention to a statement attributed to the Minister of Education at New Plymouth, that the present policy of refusing such aid might not always be the policy of the Gov-

ernment. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes replied that the matter had been referred to the Minister of Education, who replied that at no time had he suggested a departure from the existing policy of free compulsory secular education. • The Minister also said that he deemed it his duty to visit private -schools whose children were examined by his inspectors, and it was » wrong to assume that a few words of j appreciation of the work being done, ■- indicated any change in policy. Mr. Forbes stated that the Government had no present intentions of »changing the existing policy.