RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 119, 17 November 1893, Page 2

RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE STAB. Sir,— The Liberal candidate for. this constituency has spoken, and, I may say, plunged into a gulf of deep despair fully one half of his former adherents. The rock he has split upon is, State aid to Catholic Schools. Our forefathers fought, and fought well for this glorious Protestantism, and the civilised world has not yet forgotten the armed dragoons on the Covenanting Hills of Scotland, where men and women, like animals, had to hide in holes and caves of the earth. And for this glorious thing which has necessarily cost so much blood and life, are we here in New Zealand going to vote for a man who would attempt to propagate the Romish faith with British Government aid ? No, sir, our system of secular eduoation is a credit to New Zealand, and is being copied by many dependencies of the British Crown, and I firmly assert, that once aid is given to Roman Catholics, other denominations and sects will apply for assistance, and rightly too, which wil l have to be granted, and our whole present system will be Bwept away. My con ' tention is if parents wish their children to be religiously taught it is their duty to do it at home ; also, send them to Sunday School, but this idea is combatted with the contention, " How many parents practise religion in their own homes?" In answer to this I say if religion is not good enough to be practised at home, why should Catholics, or any other sect, be so punctilious regarding their children receiving religious education in the State schools. What with our Salvation Army, Bands of Hope, prayer, class, and mutual improvement meetings, there are plenty of means of religious education. Sir, the State schools at the present day, compared with the private schools of 30 or 40 jears ago, are marvels of decorum and respectability. I hear on good authority ttiSt Mr Ivess is not going to stand. Is this bold announcement of aid to Roman Catholic Schools the sop given to the I Roman Catholio candidate to retire ? Apologising for taking up so much of your now very valuable space. I am, etc , Disgusted Liberal