KEEP THEM AT SCHOOL (Continued from page 16)

Te Ao Hou, Winter 1954, Page 53

KEEP THEM AT SCHOOL (Continued from page 16) to be given, saying simply that it should be based on the needs of the child and the financial capacity of the parents. A committee, will, however, find it needs something more definite than that. For instance, how much assistance should be given for clothing for one child about to go to high school? At the meeting, some parents said it would be £50, others £60. The committee would probably need a standard figure for such cases. It could not give more to one child than to another. It might decide to grant, say, £25 or £30 to all worthy applicants, leaving the parents to find the rest. Mr Mason Durie thought parents should generally be expected to find a proportion of the cost, and the committee should not relieve them altogether of responsibility. He also thought the fixing of the scale of assistance should be done by tribal executives, not committees. It would be wrong for one committee to grant £30, and for the committee next door to grant £50 in a similar case. It was a most instructive evening. It looks very much as if in this area the “Keep Them at School” campaign is to be rather successful. If all committees approach the new scheme with the same seriousness and skill as the Aorangi committee, its future will be bright. The meeting ended with a supper which was equally praiseworthy. Ten Rules: The department has laid down ten rules that must be followed for all educational grants to be subsidized. These rules are given below for the information of tribal committee members and the people generally: Rule 1. The only moneys eligible for subsidy under this scheme are those raised by the

people themselves by means of combined efforts and through such funds-raising functions as bazaars, “bring and buy” stalls, social functions such as concerts and dances, and any other public function where the object is clearly stated and the community invited to help. Rule 2. Direct contributions or donations by individual parents do not qualify for subsidy. (NOTE: Individuals, if they so wish, can make contributions anonymously at functions.) Rule 3. Donations by or contributions from local bodies or friendly societies, Maori trust boards, incorporated committees, rents, royalties or purchase money or family farming ventures do not qualify for subsidy. Rule 4. No money shall be ear-marked beforehand for any special child, but all applications should be considered, on receipt, on the basis of need and merit. Rule 5. No financial assistance should be granted unless it can be proved to the satisfaction of the tribal committee or executive that financial hardship would result if some assistance were not given. Rule 6. The amount of assistance granted in each case is to be determined by the tribal committee or executive concerned, and should be based on the needs of the child and the financial capacity of the parents. Rule 7. Where a child is already in receipt of financial assistance from any other source whatever (scholarships included), no assistance may be granted from this fund, unless it can be shown to the satisfaction of the tribal committee or executive that the parents are unable to meet part or the whole of the balance of the charges. Rule 8. Financial assistance can be granted at any stage of education—primary, secondary, university or post-graduate. Rule 9. Financial assistance can be granted only to a Maori as defined in the Maori Social and Economic Advancement Act, 1945. Rule 10. All applications for subsidy are to be submitted through the normal channels, and are subject to the approval of the Minister of Maori Affairs.