ST. PATRICK’S COLLEGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8342, 31 January 1913, Page 3

ST. PATRICK’S COLLEGE

HAS IT RECEIVED JUSTICE?

To the Editor

'N.Z. Times.

Sir,—As one possessing a sense of justice I desire, through tho medium ol your widely-read columns, to enter a strong protest against the action ot th Wellington Education Board in decLuun b Dr Kennedy's request that Catholic children gaining scholarships should hate the option of attending a Catholic secondary institution equivalent to that oi State secondary schools. In the House of Bopreseniatives last session Mr Kuesell asked tho Minister of Education whether, seeing that the law m indriinits on the question of holders of fcrtait© scholarships being allowed to hold them at tecoondary schools, not recognised, by tho Education Act, tho Government would bring down an amendment of tho existing law to enable such scholarships to b© held at th© discretion of parent© and guardians at school© approved and inspected by State officers? Th© Hon. Mr Allen in regly stated that the law did not appear to require amendment in order to secure definiteness. Education Board scholarships could bo held at a secondary school ‘or its equivalent, approved by th© board. Junior* national scholarships could be held at a secondary school "or its equivalent,” approved by the board and the Minister. Very well. Tho Solicitor-General has defined the word “equivalent school” to mean “educationally equivalent,” and the Minister has accepted that meaning. Apparently, sir, it but now remains for St. Patrick's College to prove that the standard of education there was equivalent .to that of th© State secondary school *—in this case Wellington College—and in justice the Education Board could not refuse to allow scholarship holders to take out their scholarships there. That St. Patrick's College is the equal .—educationally—of Wellington College is beyond question. The opinion of the members of the Education Commission can he taken as unbiased. This body, after having visited the college, paid St. Patrick’s th© compliment of saying that it was "the finest educational institution in Wellington.” In spite of the Education Board side-tracked the whole issue and refused what was obviously a just request. Eor years past now. State scholarships have been held without objection at Christchurch and Wanganui (Christ's College and Wanganui Collegiate School respectively). The local Education Board was fully aware of this,- yet when Dr Kennedy cam© with a similar it ''closed .the other, eye” and refused to see the logic of his request—which impresses upon one the truth of the old saying that there are none "so blind as those who won't see.

The decision, of the board therefor© scarce needs any commen t. To those who would car© to look tip "Hansard," the wisdom of certain remarks of Mr liussell to the Hon. Mr Allen, as to the danger of sectarian feeling upon Education Boards, will be apparent. A change in the law is urgently needed. The Minister should take away the power now allowed to Education Boards to refuse parents the right of sending their children to schools of their own choice, and lo vest in himself alone the power of saying what schools should be regarded as equivalent to a secondary school. Local influence could not then obtain, and justice would be metod to all.—X am. etc..

VERNON HAYDON Wellington, January 30th, 1913.