XN000022-1971-02-24 — Page 19

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Wednesday, February 24, 1971

It would also involve waiving $23.5 million in outstanding loans

made from the Development Loan Fund to the sponsors of primary schools.

Though he did not think it was the original intention, Sir John said it had

become the practice that sponsors repaid these capital loans from additional

contributions levied on parents. The waiving of these loans did not affect

the main accounts, but would reduce the assets of the Development Loan Fund.

"I cannot say that I myself an particularly happy to make this

announcement, which extends free primary education beyond those who cannot

afford to pay for it, and are not being asked to do so even now, to very many

on whom primary school fees are no burden," Sir John commented.

There might be very good grounds for universal compulsory primary

education, but he saw none for universal free education, even if that

education was compulsory. There was no principle that he was aware of which

laid down that it was proper to levy compulsory taxes but not compulsory fees,

so long as there was adequate provision to avoid hardship for those with

low incomes.

*I hope that we shall be able to do something to limit free prinary

education, and possibly, for that matter, heavily subsidised primary education,

to the schools which do not cater for the affluent," Sir John said. "This

is generally the situation in other countries with free primary education.

Our system has been distorted by its historical development."

On the Polytechnic, he said there was no financial provision for

it "other than for the expenses of the Planning Committee."

/But