“A Plea For The Less Fortunate”

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 11

“A Plea For The Less Fortunate”

Sir,—lf you will kindly grant me space, on behalf of the less fortunatelyplaced young people I wish to put in a plea. Talents and aptitudes are often wasted through lack of opportunity for development, or through unawareness of same; or through laziness and the right kind of encouragement. But there are still some ambitious young people apart from those who have been fortunate enough to win bursaries. Why should these young people have their ambitions crushed through taxation, on the very threshold of their lives, as it were. (I have known young people in the past to help themselves to obtain bursaries by earning a little here and there to help pay for their tuition.) I refer to the position of those whose parents cannot pay for further education and who therefore must go out into the world to earn at least something toward their keep—they are certainly unable to earn sufficient to provide for themselves entirely. The union fees, the social security contribution, the registration fees, make a hard pill to swallow for those who are trying to pay for extra tuition In order that they may rise above some blind alley occupation. Are all going to be forced to be content with a mediocre sameness? When all is said and done, it does seem rather brutal to deny youth its freedom to choose and to stifle ambition—that rara avis which needs fostering and encouraging by wise and responsible adults. What would be the use of building a conservatorium of music if no allowance is to be made for extra study by the young.—l am, etc., NON-STIFLOTION. Wellington, March 27.