KITCHENER SCHOLARSHIPS.
ROMAN CATHOLIC POINT OF VIEW. Tho following letter has been sent by the New Zealand Catholic Federation to tho members of the National Cabinet : " Gdntlcmen.—The New Zealand Catholic Federation has learned with pleasure of the generous offer of the Hon Colonel Heaton Rhodes to contribute tho sum of £IOOO as tho nucleus of a fund to establish what aro known as " kitchener Memorial Scholarships" for the benefit of the children of Now Zealand soldiers who ha-vo fallen, or may fall, during the war. The idea is a splendid one, and we applaud the thoughtfulness of a gallant soldier and an honourable politician. , "There is; however, an aspect of the matter to which we, as a federation representing the many thousands of tho Catholic population, feel compelled to draw attention, more especially as the Kitchener Memorial Scholarships are an entirely new departure, and do not (and cannot, unless tho Government chooses to so make them) constitute a component part of the State, education system. Tliev will be as distinct from ordinary scholarships as aro tho Cecil Rhodes Scholarships. "Our point is this: When the call for men resounded throughput New Zealand Catholics responded liberally, and when men were wanted for daring enterprise they took their full share of what was coming and never failed to uphold, tho traditions of the Empire. In tho trenches or the charge there was no question of religion. They fought aud won and lost and died for a common cause. Many of those who have given their lives 'for the Empire ideal were Catholics, and many of those have left behind them sons who, it may bo reasonable to imagine, will aspire to win a Kitchener Memorial Scholarship. What the federation would like to know is, whether, in the event of a Catholic bny being successful, he. would' bo compelled to 'take out his scholarship at a State scholastic institution, or whether he would bo allowed to go to a Catholic school of a standing approved of by the authorities. II not, tho position" would he as follows:—A Catholic soldier lays down his lifo for the Empire, perhaps winning golden honours in doing so. His son wins a scholarship (not°a Stato scholarship) founded by a Dominion Imperialist for the sons of such heroes, and unless specific provision is made, the winner may be tokt that ho can only go to a State institution, which would be entirely opposed to tho whole of the religious training and principles of his father. Ho can onh lovallv follow the faith of his father (who died for the Empire) by refusing tho scholarship. "We have no desire to raise the, sectarian issue in any respect whatever, but we do say that the' bayonet thrust of a Catholic' soldier is as good as the ■bayonet thrust of any other • soldier, and that If ho makes the great sacrifice, his belief in!regard to the education of his children is entitled not only to respect, but ought .in justico to bo carried out. " A copy of this, letter has'been.sent to the Hon Colonel Rhodes."
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Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17283, 26 September 1916, Page 4
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513KITCHENER SCHOLARSHIPS. Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17283, 26 September 1916, Page 4
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