Abstract:
This thesis aims to give an historical account of the State aid to private schools issue in New Zealand, from the introduction and passing of the Education Act, 1877 to the conclusion of the hearing of the Holy Name Society's petition by the Education Committee of the House of Representatives in 1956. The short chapter, 1840-1877, briefly surveys the history of the legislation and events leading to the 1877 Act.
Maori private schools and the aid given to those schools, have been omitted from the thesis since this aspect of the State aid question really comes under a different and special category.
The term 'State aid,' although not acceptable to the Roman Catholics, has been retained and used throughout because it is the generally accepted phrase and most, if not all, people in New Zealand understand what is meant by it.
