SUBSIDIES FOR SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1935, Page 7

SUBSIDIES FOR SCHOOLS

Writing further regarding subsidies for denominational schools, B. J. Barnao states that the Catholics claim no rights that they do not willingly concede to others. They are asking only for justice.

"Catholics are citizens of the community, and they voluntarily desire a Catholic education for their children. It is indeed a moral obligation. State education is simply not concerned with the things that Catholics place firstGod; Christ, the moral law, life, and death. ... State education is; not 'free of cost.' Every citizen pays in general taxation an '.the-Catholics pay their share—roughly, £300,000 a year. If all Catholic children went to State schools the' whole community would have to find something like £200,000 a year extra. . This is at present being found by Catholics. They are willingly paying for their own schools, but in addition they are forced to contribute in general taxation.to State education —£300,000 for nothing. The Catholics do not want a subsidy. The title of this controversy is thus ill-fitting. They are merely trying to point out that once is enough to pay for their children's education. A subsidy means something for nothing—another matter altogether. Finally, Mr: Riddell has completely ignored my statement that to a greater or lesser extent England and Scotland realise the validity of the Catholic claim to justice." .

[This correspondence is now closed. -03d.] .: ,„ - : „■ ;