The Evening Mail. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 637, 20 May 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1878.

The remarks that fell from Mr. Sheimski the other evening when addressing the electors at the Volunteer Hall seem to have re-awakened the Catholics of Oamara to a sense of the injustice they are suffering on account of the nature of the system of cducetion -which is provided" under the Education Act of last session. That gentleman, in commenting npon the Act, said that he hoped that the Catholics would become accustomed to the present system of education ; and as they view the system as a galling yoke, Mr' Sheimski has undergone a little rough handling by certain of the Catholic body through our columns. Now, from what we know of Mr. Shrimski, he is not the man to favor the continuance of a system of education the working of

which would either exclude any section of onr colonists from profiting by it, or interfere with their religious scruples ; and, although he did not state that he would be prepared to support the amendment of a measure so obnoxious to the Catholics of the Colony, that, so far as as they arc concerned, it is worse than a dead letter, we are persuaded that he would do so. Mr. Shrimski seemed, on the occasion of his address, to be labouring under an impression that that of which Catholics complain would stand a poor chance of being rectified.

In this we disagree with him. Our opinion is, that the Act, from beginning to end, :<*'faulty, and in this those coincide who have proved it to be so by actual experience. The Catholics are not the only ones who have cause to complain, for the composition of the Dnnedin Education Board, elected under the Act, is such that there are districts totally unrepresented, and the fruits of this are already being demonstrated in the Board's noiwhah'nn: where the interests of outside school districts are involved. Yet, the Act, as itstands at present, precludes the possibility of a more equitable constitution of the School Board. It is not, h«.-..ever.

our intention on ;ho present occasion to refer to all die weak points in the Act : we merely cite one of the weakest in order to show that the probability is that its emendation will occupy the attention of Parliament during next session. But the magnitude of the hardship of those who are'suliering from the cool disregard of their requirements by the Education Board i affords no balm to heal the wounds from which the Catholics are smarting. Thcy state that they cannot send their children to the schools constituted under the Act, and their principal reasons appear to be these :—l. Their Church has condemned

secular education as dangerous to faith and morality. 2. They view sending their children to schools in r ': c' ; i secular education only is allowed as tantamount to abandoning their Church. These reasons may appear to Protestants to be unimportant, but that thc-y ore not, so from a Caiholic point of vkw is proved by the efforts Catholics are making to provide education for their children consonant with the teachings of their church. Is not the long list of subscriptions for this object which ha 3 been published in our columns conclusive evidence of Catholics' strong aversion to secularism ? It is not at all probable that, actuated merely by whim, they would adopt the course of raising subscriptions to establish schools. Anyone taking into consideration even the trouble of doing so would conclude otherwise: but a glance at tinheavy amounts on the subscriptionlist would remove any doubts that might exist as to the sincerity of the Catholics and the sympathy with them of a large section of Protestants These subscriptions arc being raised for the purpose of establishing schools under

the conduct of the " : Christian Brothers," in which Roman CVho'.ic children will receive education in accord .-nice with the teachings of the church to which ihey belong. Obstacles lay in their path that will render difficult the accomplishment of thi« object ; but, notwithstanding this, it is plain that they will not use Government schools. Wo have heard it said by S"ine, '" Schools have been provided for the Roman Catholics ;. if they fail to avail themselves of thnn they alone are to blame." Wo do not bolieve that such, is the feeling of the majority of the Protestants of this Colony. The religionists of the Colony are virtually divided into two classes—Protestants and Catholics. There are others, but they are in the minority ; and it is not difficult to satisfy such, as, if the present Act does not supply them with religious education, its omission to do so does not materially

interfere with their religious convictions. Protestants have no de.iiro that the taxes paid by the Catholics should partially defray the expense of educating their children. Wc believe that they would far rather let the Catholics manage their own schools after their own fashion. Protestants maj-not be able to understand any religioua sect carrying their religious scruples so far as are Catholics ; but now-a-days they usually know how to respect the motives of those who differ with them, for tlie age of religious intolerance has fortunately passed away, and every man is permitted to enjoy his own religious belief without interference. That the education they are offered in return for their money would be interfering with their religious convictions we have no doubt, for we are told thnt the combining religious with secular education is one of the cardinal rides enjoined by the Roman Catholic Church 1 Then, if this be the case, it would appear to be unreasonable to expect members of that church to send their children to the Government Schools. They might as j well be asked to send them to a Protestant Church (which would scarcely be a greater violation of the teachings of their religion), or, it would be just as reasonable to expect a Protestant to send his children for religious instruction to a Roman Catholic Church. In each case it would be calling upon people to pocket their religious convictions. Something should at once be done in the matter, for what would be the result if the Roman Catholics should fail in their attempt, from lack of funds, to establish schools for their children? One of two tilings: they muat either allow their children to

otow up in ignorance, or be driven tcp the necessity of sending them to the Government Schools. Parliament must iiideed show respect for so large a secticn of colonists, and rectify the evil of wrriicli Roman Catholics complain. As a of policy, this would he urgently necessary, and it is equally so as a matter \of justice. We have read numerous artiel/es and letters on the subject which sta.te that Roman Catholics will attempt to t'ain their point by not exercising their privilege to vote for members of Parliament, or by voting only for those mon

who will favor according them facilities for educating their children after the manner prescribed by their church, irrespective of their qualifications to occuyy the onerous position of representatives. Such a course would be productive of results that would be most damaging to the interests of the Colony. The Catholics say that this may be remedied ; and we are of opinion that it is worth while to make the concession for which they ask, in order to avoid such a calamity. They are compelled to pay the tax, in common with others, for supporting Government schools, and why not give them the capitation allowance for

every child that is taught in accordance with the requirements of the Act ? This is all they ask, and we understand that they are quite willing to forfeit all claim to assistaucu if their education should not stand the test of Government; inspection. There would be no great sacrifice in doing this, whilst the object in view of educating the whole of the children of the Colony would be gained, and the present disaffection amongst our Roman Catholic colonists would be exchanged for harmony. We believe that wo are correct in stating that this system is adopted in England, and we sea no reason why it should not be adopted here.