THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1572.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1199, 1 June 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1572.

There can be no doubt that on the Assembly meeting a battle royal will be fought on the Education question, and it is more than probable that the measure prepared by the Government and circulated some few weeks, ago, will meet with the same fate as those brought forward during the two last Parliamentary sessions. The Bill now passed is very similar in character to that of last year, but in order to meet the views of the denominationaiists, [what are termed the aided clauses, and arc in effect a compromise, have now been embodieed in it. It was originally intended by the promoters of last year's bill, that it should be purely national, and that religion of all kinds Bhould be specially banished from public schools in order to allow children of all creeds to equally benefit without their religious faiths, or rather that of their parents, being in any way interfered with. This view, however, suited neither the Catholics nor the Episcopalians, and the Ministers of these denominations throughout the colony were very active in their exertions in getting-up petitions against the proposed measure, whilst their champions in the House fought vigorously in favor of retaining the old denominational system, and bo warm was the opposition that the bill was withdrawn. Since that time a portion of the Wesleyans have come over to the same way of thinking, and thus a somewhat incongruous association has been formed. In Otago the question has given rise to quite a bitter spirit, and it was lately the subject of a debate in the Provincial Council of that Province, that lasted three days. As is of course well-known, the Presbyterians are in favor of a purely secular system, and the debate in question, as might be expected, terminated in an expression of opinion to the effect that no Colonial or National system of Education would be satisfactory unless the teaching was of a wholly unaectarian character. Without doubt a majority of the Otago representatives in the Assembly, and they are a powerful body, will adhere to this when the proposed Education Bill comes on, and will strongly oppose the aided clauses. On the other hand, Bishop Moran, who has the Catholic spiritual charge of that Province, has been most energetic in denouncing any measure that interferes with denominationalism, and has lost no opportunity of speaking and writing in the strongest, indeed exceedingly strong, terms. The parties in that part of the Colony are at loggerheads of no , ordinary kind, and Education, like religion, bids fair to create animosities and heartburnings of the most painful description. At the same time it is most probable that the aided clauses will be accepted by opponents, but this « merely a paltry mode of subterfuge —something like closing the front door of a shop, and, for appearance sake, letting ciistomers in to any extent at the side door. They are contained in Part 6, which provides for the disposal of funds at the command of the various Boards. The first clause having reference to aided schools is the 52nd, which provides Boards may supplement any funds raised by private persons for educational purposes, in scattered localities where no

Bchool district has been proclaimed. To this there is not, however, likely to be any objection. The following are those on which will be the tug of war. The 53rd runs as follows :— " It shall be bo lawful for the Board of any Province at its discration to grant any sum or sums in aid of the efforts of private individuals or associations for the maintenance of schools within school districts within such Province, and such Bchools are hereinafter referred to as Aided Schools.,, Provided that every school be a public school within the moaning of this Act." The various churches or denominations may be deemed to be " associations," and as the Provincial Executives of the various Provinces, and five other persons elected by the Provincial Councils respectively, form the various Boards, it ia evident that the proposed secular character of the bill is at once destroyed. Even in case of refusal on the part of any Board, clause 54 provides " If the Minister shall at any time be satisfied that the Board of any Province in any case shall without reasonable cause have refused aid to any such school as by the two preceding sections the Board is empowered to aid, and the managers of which shall have complied, or be ready to comply, with the provisions of this Act, it shall be lawful for the Minister to give such pecuniary aid aa he shall think fit to such schools, and the amount so given from time to time shall be charged by the Colonial Treasurer against the capitation money of the said province, &c, &c." We omitted to say that a responsible Minister of the Crown is to be Minister of Education, and is the iHithority referred to. Thus it is certaiu that through the Board, or this Court of Appeal, as it were, by political or other influence, the " associations" will always be able to gain their ends, and thus the Act is virtually rendered a sham as far as its secular character is concerned. It might be thought that the condition attached to the 53rd clause, that every school should be a public school within the meaning of the Act, would be a check, but* such is by no' means the case, 'for it is further provided that such schools shall be governed by " managers," in other words denominational committees. As we have already stated, on these clauses will the issues be fought, and the contest is likely to be more than : usually severe. Both sides, the nationalists and denominationalists, are equally determined, and both have warm advocates in the Assembly. It ia hard to say to which side victory will incline, but we greatly fear that, owing to this division, a comprehensive and efficient educational system will be deferred almost sine die, judging from the present aspect of affairs. At an early date we shall have more to say on the subject, and will give fuller details of the general operation of the proposed Act. We draw special attention at present to the threatened danger in order that those interested in educational reform may be warned in time and take such measures as to them may seem best, to put an end to the objectionable systems that have hitherto obtained in the various provinces of the Colony.