MARIST BROTHERS' APPEALS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3112, 16 June 1917, Page 8

MARIST BROTHERS' APPEALS

DISCUSSION AT MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

DECISION RESERVED

( Ycslorthiy the First Wellington Military Service Board dealt with throe appeal's tor Marist Brothers school teachers. The board consists of Messrs. IX 0. A. Cooper, K.M. (chairman),, D. M'Laren, and W. Perry, with Captain Walker an ■military representative. The brothers appealed for were: flenr Patrick Skiffington, aged 211, Napier William Patrick Dootly, aged 21, Haivki stono Street, Wellington; and Thoma Augustus Holdboraw, aged 3S, WuJiganui Mr. 11. 1 , . O'Leary appeared as counsc for the appellant authority. Mr. O'Lcary put in tho followini statement of the position of tho Eomai Catholic Schools in New Zealand:— Number of boys taught by Marist Bros, in Wellington ... • 42* Vahio of land and boys' school •biddings in the city £U,B Annual cost, interest, salaries, etc., about J»,OOI Number of boys taught by Marist Bros, in Wellington Archdiocese A Gil Value of land and school buildings in archdiocese i£20,001 Annual cost of boys' schools in archdiocese M,2oi Boys taught by Jtarist Bros, in New Zealand 1,851 Value of land and .school buildings in Now Zealand «£«O,00t Annual cost boys' schools in NewZealand ■. J?13,00C Number of boys and girls attending New Zealand Catholic schools 17,311 Value of Roman Catholic school land and buildings in New Zealand .£450,000 Approximate annual cost of Roman Catholic education in . New Zealand .£IIO,OOO Number of pupils attending Catholic schools in Wellington Archdiocese 7,140 Value of school property in archdiocese .*. .£150,000 Approximate cost of Catholio ' education in archdioccso Vfi-15,000 The annual cost is based on what the Stato spent per head per scholar in its own schools, viz., £6 18s. 2d. The maintaining by Roman Catholics of their own schools is an additional, self-imposed tax, for they already contribute their share in taxation toward public education. Taking tho number of Roman Catholics as about 150,000, and the cost per head at 295. 3d., Catholics must pay toward public education about .£170,000 per annum. Brother Michal Egbert, in charge of the Tasman Marist Brothers' School for Boys, was called to give evidence. He said there were forty-seven teaching brothers in the whole Dominion, and all' but four or five were in tho First Division. In Wellington 'there were eight teaching brothers—five at Tasman Street and three at Hawkestone Street, both of which schools were primary. At Tasman Street there were 280 boys, and at Hawkestono Street about 140. The averago of pupils per teacher at Tasman Street was fifty-seven and at Hawkestono Street forty-seven. There were altogether fourteen Marist Brothers teachers in the Wellington Archdiocese—eight in Wellington, three at Wauganui, and three at Napier. The schools were not now adequately staffed, because the teachers woro seriously overworking and overtaxing their health, and some of. the teachers were elderly brothers iwho would be retired if. they were State school teachers.

Captain Walker: How many Catholic secondary schools are there in New Zea-

Brother Egbert:' St. Patrick's College, Wellington; Sacred Heart College, Auckland; St. Bede's, Christcliurch; and tho Holy Cross College, Jlosgiel. .The Jlosgiel institution, he added, was largely ecclesiastical.

Captain Walker: Altogether thero are 172 Catholic schools in New Zealand.

How many aro under the jurisdiction of your Order? Brother Egbert: Nine primary and one secondary. ' How mnny of the sixty male Catholic teachers are yours?—" Forty-seven." Have you any retired teachers?— "None."

I takcit there are some priests capable of teaching who are not at present doing so?—"I am not in a position to say. However, they are all so fully occupied it would be impossible." Has it been considered? —"I don't know that it has."

Captain Walker: The Education Department has for some lime beon taking oil people who have never taught before. Captain Walker said that from the State schools 535 out of 1628 teachers had. oulisted. Of that total 550 were over military age, and .a number were married. All but about twelve iu the First Division had enlisted. The average size of the classes taught by the male teachers iir the public schools was sixty. The Problem of Replacement. Captain AValker: If one of theso men (say Brother Doody) were taken, do you say the school would be closed? Brother Egbert: I don't say that. Would it to contrary to your rules (o replace Brother Doody with a lady teacher? —"It would not be strictly in accordance with our rules." Could the rule Tjo waived in time of war and stress? —"I think it could." Then could a lady teacher be engaged? —"I don't think so." AVhy not ?—"We have not the funds to pay one with." Mr. M'Laren: Have you lost any men through enlistment? Brother Egbert: No. Archbishop O'Shea, Coadjutor Arch Lishop of Wellington, , in ihe cour.su o evidence, said it would be impossible t replace tho Marist Brothers 'teachers b; other teachers. As to teachers who wen not of sonio one of the religious order it would not be possible to pay then their salary similar to the salary givei by tho State to school teachers. 'Mr. O'Leary: The Catholic schools liavi l>een founded in New Zealand at grar expense to the Catholic community? Archbishop O'Shea: Yes. They have; undertaken this expense, a.' an additional, tax on themselves?—-"Yes because they believe religious education absolutely necessary." Apparently there are 42 Jlarist Brother' teachers iu the First Division. If hull of them were fit and were taken could thn .schools remain open ?—"No." Captain Walker: If Brother Doody were taken would it mean closing the school ? Archbishop O'Shea: Tt would eventually. AVhy eventually?—"Hocanse if one is token others will be taken later." Not necessarily. If only the one were taken would the school close?-"No. ]f Brother Skiliington went, though, it would probably mean closing thn Napier school. There would only be one other teacher and a very old man. Could not. the priests help?—" No. They aro already fully occupied, and shorthanded, iind many have gone to the war." You say you could not afford to emnloy other teachers. Who could not au'ord?— "The parent body. The Catholic peonle have already made great: sacrifices for education." Captain Walker: Other people are making sacrifice;. Archbishop O'Shea: AVo are doing our share. Mr. O'Leary: And we did' not wait till tho war started. Tho boai - d postponed its decision till after th« reservists apoealed for havo been medically examined.

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