RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ASAIN.

Mataura Ensign, Volume VI, Issue 285, 31 August 1883, Page 2

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ASAIN.

Eajily in the session a Joint Committee of both Houses was appointed to enquire in*-o alleged grievances under the Education Act. Nearly 20,000 persons had petitioned in 126 petitions in favor of some modification, while less than 5000 had petitioned for the stutu quo. These figures of course do not represent the relative strength of parties. The 20,000 had to make out a case and muster every man, woman, and child that would sign a petition for the sake of a quiet life. I he other side felt safe in the nine points of the law, and only in a few cases thought it worth while to ask for what it already had, and even in those few caees it asked lnn^uidly —as fearing no thing. The .presenting of the report by Mr Pykr in the House led to an argument, if not to a debate. He evidently espoused the cause of the Catholics and reported wholly in their favor, saying that they saved the ; tate £30,000 a y«ar, &c. Other members of the Committee thf>n objected to Mr Fyke's speech as not being the report but only hifi own views unfairly put forward under the name of the Committee to gain undue importance. It further appeared that some evidence had been refused and only that of clergymen taken. These had shown a considerable lack of " grit " and a good stock of bigotry and folly. The evidence taken is very voluminous, and it in to be printed. It is declared to be one sided, and some members were of opinion that the rev. gentlemen should circulate their opinions at their own expense.