UNIVERSITY AWARDS
Stx,—The mentality revealed and the implications of Mr. Bacon's letter on the above subject are really astonishing. In these days a 5 per cent. overall return on safe investments is rather high, yet, assuming this, on the figures given, I calculate Mr. Bacon's capital assets are in the region of £60,000. Yet, not only has this been achieved " mainly from savings," but, with a daughter still not old enough for a university, Mr. Bacon has already retired. In effect, the claim is made that the education of his child must not involve him in any sacrifice, however trivial. His amenities, his holidays, his sacred capital must not be touched.
I am a minor—a very minor—civil servant. Wounds sustained in the First World War have effectually stopped any advancement in my pro- fession. Including a disability pension, my income before deduction of 'income-tax, national insurance, &c., is around £460 per annum. I am married with two sons aged 20 and 10 respectively. I, too, passionately desired my children to go to a university. In the case of the eldest boy this desire was realised last October when he went up to Cambridge after serving two years in the R.A.F. My wife and I realised there would be a price to pay, and for many years, more particularly during the last ten, we have proudly and gladly paid as follows: Only two holidays in ten years ; no smoking, no drinking and endless make-do-and-mend ; for me, personally, a stretch of eight years during which I averaged 70 hours' work per week with never a free Sunday. Even by this "penal servitude " my income barely reached £600 per annum before deductions.
My son won his place by ability and hard work. Even with his grants, for which we are deeply grateful, we are still left for half the year to maintain him, clothe him and provide for his holidays, recreation, &c. We do not regard our efforts as sacrifices in the least. But we are naturally impatient of appeals for sympathy from one in a position to realise £1,500 or £2,000 from capital assets of £60,000, and thus be quite independent of any aid whatever. To do so would be a pleasure in the same way as we have paid doctor's and dentist's fees ourselves. Incident- ally, the Special Levy listed by Mr. Bacon will not be a charge in two years' time.
For obvious reasons, I must remain anonymous, but enclose my address as evidence of good faith.—Yours faithfully, LESTRIAN.
Previous page
