EDUCATION SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1917, Page 3

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Minister’s Attitude Approved Auckland, March 29 A deputation of about sixty, including prominent educationists and ministers of religion, waited on Hon J. A. Hanao tbie evening fop the purpose of expressing appreciation of bis attitude in refusing concessions to sectarian schools. Replying, the Minister said he had bsßa in the House about eighteen years, and had always pledged himself to uphold the present system. In replying to requitals since the war for concessions for sectarian schools, he had stated that ha believed they would result in the undermining and disintegration of the preseot system. Ho would have been false to his pledges had he acceded to the requests. He deemed certain principles essential to the mamtenatice and stability cf ths national rystem, and considered it h : B duty to always maintain those principles. Thousands of men and woman in the Dominion owed a great deal to the State system of education, and they were not now goiog to alter it so as to deny similar benefits to those who followed. He waß convinced that the representations stood for a great body of public opinion throughout the Dominion. He thought no Minister of Education and uo Government having regard to the principle of national education and the interests at t ke dared depart from them and aliw copcesaiona that would ultimately/ lay the national system in mine.