PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3134, 12 July 1917, Page 5

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

— 4 .— PROTESTS AGAINST "PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT." By Telegraph-I'rcss, Association. .• Aucklandl July 11. A crowded meetintj held at; the Town flail to inaugurate the Protestant Political Association passed a resolution expressing hearty nnproval of the national system of education in vogue in INew Zealand, as opposed to a sectarian system, and its determination to strenuously combat all attempts to interfere, with the religious 'liberty which the national system affords; also congratulating the Minister of Education on his firm opposition to a grant of Slate aid to Roman Catholic schools. Another resolution affirmed that "Protestants protested against the glaring injustice' being done to. them, tho teachers and children of the Dominion, csneeially to men of the Second Division, by preferential treatment of Marist and Christian Brothers in respect to military service. Further, this meeting considers the placing of teachers in the Second Division in the* list of essential workers, when practically the whole of the eligible teachers of (he First. Division and many .of tlie Second Division have volunteered, is oxtendnnr further protection to Marist and Christian Brothers, which onlv- adds to and intensifies- the injustice alreadv done by protecting them acainst service, while hundreds of their fellow-teachers whose claim to exemption is iusf as valid have been compelled" to,go'to the front. This meetirg therefore culls upon the Government to take action to ensure that these private school teachers render duo service to the Empire before the men of the Second Division are called upon to lake nlaces that single men of the Marist and Christian Brothers ought to fill." A eopv of the resolution will -be forwarded to tho Prime Minister.