SCHOLARSHIPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8347, 6 February 1913, Page 6

SCHOLARSHIPS

Tho following letter, which has reached ns from a Masterton correspondent, is dealt with in these columns because, in the opening sentences, it makes statements that are absolutely contrary to fact. We refer, for instance, to the assertion that we have taken up the cause of one religious body for pecuniary aid to their schools. If it is taking up a cause to permit the free discussion of a question, we have certainly done this latter, consistently with our custom of giving equal opportunity to every cause for the discussion of its grievances. However, our correspondent’s letter shall speak for itself: To the Editor.—Si?,—lt is with wonder that I notice that you take up the cause of the Catholics in their desire to obtain pecuniary benefits from the public funds through the medium of scholarships. The wonder becomes greater to me when i remember that just a little while back, when the Bible-in-Schools League were making their power felt, that you announced in a leading article that you were determined to oppose any' sectarian interference in the education system of Now Zealand. About this time Dr Kennedy, of St. Patrick’s College, put forward his plea, for allowing scholarships to he held there, and you were very cm-.

phalic in saying that you would strongly oppose such a course. Why change oi front? It makes one draw iniercnces. Has vour paper decided Catholic leanings?' I fear so. 1. sir, oppose sectarianism in any form in our education system. f oil are lukewarm. You scold the one. you smile and beckon to the other. In justice to the Bible-in-Schools League, though I must say that 1 was brought up in schools —not in New Zealand where religious instruction was given. f can honestly say that on not one occasion did I ever know of striio among scholars, or teacher, or parents, lint I have heard and seen strife enough with Government and Catholic schools in New Zealand- Here is where the whole stnie is kept alive, not with Bible ill schools. It would be a blessing to any country if .denominational schools were swept out of existence. The Catholics claim that they save the Government of New Zealand some thousands of pounds yearly by maintaining their own schools. Does the New Zealand Government ask for such? Does tho Catholic Church do it with any desire to aid tho Government? Certainly not, they have their own ends to meet. That body may be very generous, but it does not show any generosity on this score. Let them support thenown schools if they wish Uicm. Vour reply may bo that other denominations aro allowed privileges in regard to scholarships. Your work then lies, not in aiding others to get the same, but in taking away from those that already have. The Catholics are only seeking to get the thin end of the wedge in, and they will not rest till it is driven right home. Let me also show ray appreciation to the members of the Wellington Education Board for their good sense in refusing Dr Kennedy's request. Hr Editor, I must apologise for taking up so much of your .valuable space.—l am, etc., WESTMEATH. As we have already said, we hare hitherto not said one word in support of tho claim of tho Roman Catholics. But now that the question has been raised, and while wo are uncompromisingly opposed to any interference with tho free, secular and compulsory system of primary education, wo are not satisfied in our own minds that the Roman Catholics aro receiving fair consideration in the particular matter of these scholarships. Even if tho ojjposition they have encountered is logically warranted, some at least of it betrays bigotry and intolerance to an extent that should bo foreign to this country, and tho letter of our correspondent in this respect, a portion of which we have excised, is not free from criticism. It has been maintained for years that tho education in tho Roman Catholic schools is not equal to that imparted in tho State schools. If the Reman Catholic children incontestably prove, by competitive examination, that it is, then they are entitled to some consideration in tho matter of the scholarships they win. The scholarship is not a prize for attendance at a State school. It is a reward for intellectual training, and a recognition that tho winner ia competent to go forward to a higher educational course. AVhy should that higher course not bo taken out in a Roman Catholic College? Our correspondent has raised tho question, and, for the life of us, wo are at a loss to say why not. Mr F. W. Mackenzie, himself a strict covenanting Presbyterian, maintained in our columns yesterday that Christ’s College, Canterbury, where lads are allowed to complete their scholarship course, js just as much a sectarian school as St. Patrick’s in Wellington. He also instances Wanganui College as to some extent sectarian, and unquestionably it is a fact that other colleges into which Scholarship winners aro drafted are under powerful sectarian control. We aro free to confess that we entertain serious misgivings whether this muchdebated question has yot received all the consideration it calls for.