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Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 255, 19 September 1877, Page 2

EDUCATION BILL. Catholics, Jews, ami .Secularists are strongly opposed to the religions clauses of the proposed new Education Dili, as also are a number of Dissenters of various denominations. At a meeting of Catholics held at St. Bathan’s (South Island), on the 2hth August, Dr Allan (as a itiuiahst) spoke in favour ot the following propsilion, which was afterwards carried “ That a great wrong is offered to the Catholics of New Zealand, by those clauses of the Bill which relate to exemption certificates, because such clauses, if carried into law, would result in the abolition of Catholic schools, and the forcing ot Catholic children into tfovernnunt schools in violent opposition to the conscientious convictions of their parents."’ The view taken by the speaker wiil ho very generally accepted by Catholics, and will be road with inr,crest by others who object to the religions clauses. Vv e therefore give the following extracts : Dr Aallu, after a few introductory remarks, said —“it I was to begin at one end of the Bill and read it backwards, 1 think you would just be as wise as if yon read it for yourselves from the first danse to the last. Well, then, if it is unintelligible in its wording, it must certainly be unmanageable inits working - . Is this a way to treat a great national question affecting - some tnousands of her Majesty’s loving - subjects ? But besides this, it is the most unfair, unjust, and I may say, irreligious and unchristian Act which was ever introduced into any legislative body, feiuce the days of the penal laws, no Act has been introduced that so could bind and tic down the religions and conscientious principles of a large section, of good and loyal colonists. It appears to me that the Ministry is acting very similar to a child of tender years trying to teach its more mature parent of large experience : an infant colony teaching its mother country to elucidate and carry great educational laws which have puzzled the greatest statesmen. Would this infamous, insolent, anti one-sided i3ili be toluratcd in England - ? Certainly not. Not many years ago—truly after long agitation—fbut mind, agitation in an old country) the British Legislature jmtall Christian denominations on an equality as far as possible ; and why should not this infant colony do the same ? Has not our navy at home on board its noble vessels ministers —nay, even schoolmasters —of all denominations? Has not our heroic army the same? Have not our gaols and penitentiaries the same ? And all paid for by the State out of National funds contributed by the people at large. There is no forcing of Catholic children into Protestant schools, unless under circumstances which cannot be avoided, and then, if any complaint is made, any mistake is instantly rectified. Of course small minorities cannot have their individual wants supplied. Nor do we require or wish it, but as long as^ there is a commanding - minority, I thime any right-minded and principled person will agree with me that the minority ougnt to have its fair share of public lands devoted to its educational establishments. Now, in regard to the exemption clauses, I think these are the most humiliating parts of Hi is cruel measure. Arc we Catholics to go and bend the knee, cap in hand, and beg an exemption certificate from a committee or any member of that committee ? Certainly not. Arc Catholic children—perhaps hotter educated than others— or their parents to

bo dragged like criminals before a legal tribunal because, forsooth, they have not an exemption certificate in their pockets? Why cannot Government come forward in a manly, just, and fair spirit, an d say, ‘ If you Catholics, or any oilier religious body, be they Jews or Gentiles, can establish a school of such and such numbers, and can come up to a certain standard of education, irrespective of any religious education given even in or out of school hours, wo will give you the same grant as accruing to any tGtate school ot equal numheis and acquirements?” But, granted that the Government would give us [Mate aid, the sine qua non is that the toaehiug must be accompanied with religions instruction on a sound Catholic basis. My candid opinion is, that rending the Lord’s Prayer and a portion of Scripture is lowering them to the prosaic standard of every-day life, making them irksome to the children, if not even offensive, and stamping them as a matter of routine, to be forgotten as soon as repeated in a parrot-like manner. Children might read the scriptures to the end of time, and never understand one sentence, without a thorough and graphic explanation. Depend upon it, gentlemen, the more religious and moral education a child lias, combined sound and liberal secular one, the better! man he will be, and the more able to fight the battle, of life, lie will thou learn to love God, obey his parents, and ultimately become a good and loyal member of the community. I once beard a Presbyterian farmer in Scotland say, ‘Give me a plough boy who roads and studies In’s Bible, and that is the lad I would employ, he his religious belief different to my own.’ (Veil, gentlemen, in concluding my remarks in speaking to this resolution, I can only say that, if the Government will not give us a capitation grant lor onr schools coupled.with religious instruction, but still subject to Government inspection, then, 1 say, let ns build schools of our own, support them by our own voluntary subscriptions, elect our own sclioolmastois, pay their salaries, and defy any Government to deprive us of our rights, our social and religious liberty. Only one more remark, gentlemen : Tiiis Bill will prevent any eligible and well-educated Homan Catholic teacher from taking a State school, and I know several .such. Is not this a shame —a disgrace—? It is worse —it is intolerant and insulting to a mass of well-conducted and welleducated young gentlemen and ladies. The. Bill as it, si,amis, and as one can read B. is retrospective, and tries to annul ail the gram! principles of the Educational Acts oftlie mother country, where justice is given and acknowledged to all classes, so far as any representative Government can do it. Of course, as I said before, no ministry can legislate for* small aud scat* e.red minorities.