MARIST BROTHERS AND CONSCRIPTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3155, 6 August 1917, Page 7

MARIST BROTHERS AND CONSCRIPTION

Sir,—Regarding Mr. M'Manaway's long letter on the above subject: Why exempt Marist Brothers or any other class of teachers? Aro not the State schools understaffed and great numbers of their best men have gono without a murmur.' Numbers of women are now taking the men's places in the State schools, and, if so, why cannot the many nuns who teaen music, painting, etc., be impressed into the service of the Roman Catholic schools? Mr. M'Manaway has an exaggerated impression about the great number of Roman Catholics who .'have enlisted, fought, and died for their country"; but I have my doubts about tins, and it will be instructive to see the figures of the various denominations which a member of Parliament is inquiring for from the Government. Although our State school system is not perfection, and the children would be greatly benefited by a .non-contentious system, such as the text book in use in Australia, yet our freo, secular, and compulsory education code was devised by very wise men, as it is a neutralsystem, and avoids bitter religious discussions and hatred. If the Roman Catholics wish to keep up schools for the teaching of their particular doctrine that is their affair. I believe the Presbyterian and Anglicans nie now establishing similar church • schools, and no agitation will be made by them, as the Roman Catholics have always done.—l am, etc., FRED HAY. Crofton, August 1, 1917.