Egalitarian Pretensions

Almost 60% of New Zealand males between the ages of 45—54 earn below $3000 (in 1969); female students from parents of that income bracket were 33% of the total number of female university students. 28% of the total number of male students had parents of the same income bracket. The addition of the wife's earnings may alter the picture a little, but the degree of disparity in a society which has egalitarian pretensions is significant.

It should be remembered that in a veritable tax haven like New Zealand it is possible for the wealthier sections of the community to legally misrepresent their incomes. The most stark picture of the class background of New Zealand university students is gained from the statistics relating to their parents' occupations. Only 5% of university students, male or female, have fathers whose occupations is semiskilled or unskilled. Yet this type of occupation accounts for over 40% of the labour force.

One final indicator of the inequalities of our education system is to be found in statistics relating to the achievement levels of Maoris, in an education system which deals with middle class Pakeha experiences in a middle class Pakeha manner. In 1969 only 1.7% of Maoris leaving school were bound for university compared with 11.6% of non-Maoris. The 96 Maoris bound for university formed less that 2% of the number of school leavers with that destination, although Maoris comprised 11% of all school leavers.