CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 58, 30 June 1914, Page 2

CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

IPbb Pks«« Abbociation. J Wellington, June 2b. The Minister of Education was waited, on this;aftetnoomdiya 'depuration representing the New Zealand Catholic, Eedoration, which laid before him some important phases of the education question as they affect the Catholics of New Zealand. The deputation was briefly introduced by Mr A.; H. ( Hindmarsh, M.P. Archbishop O’Shea said the deputation represented the Catholic Federation, consisting of 80,000 citizens of the Dominion. Catholics were laboring under certain educational disabilities, especially in regard to scholarships. They understood that the Government proposed to bring in tins session an amendment of the Education Act, and lie hoped it would bo made clear in that measure that Catholic scholars who won Education Board scholarships should be entitled to take th(?m out at Catholic secondary schools, which were regarded as “equivalent” to State secodnary schools. While several of the Education Boards allowed pupils who had won scholarships from private primary schools to take them out at secondary schools attached to that denomination, other boards had • refused the privilege. The deputation therefore asked the Minister to insert a clause in the amending Education Act making it imperative that scholarships wen by pupils attending primary schools should be tenable at private Secondary' schools where certified by inspectors as being educationally equivalent to the. Government inI stitutions.

I lie Hou. J. Allen, in replying, •said lie fully recognised the sacrifice that the Catholics had made in the course of tho education of their children. As to the he would he sorry to think that any Board considered the matter of V secondary schools from a denominational point ot view. Perhaps the deputation could tell him privately what hoards had, acted in that way, and it might give some weight to their argument. Ho had found the law as it was and had endeavored to administer it to tho best of his ability. jjdo was bringing down an Education Bill this session, and if lie found that Catholics were suffering an injustice the question would receive every consideration. * '1 lie Minister, speaking further, gave the deputation to understand that he was only too .anxious that Catholic school teachers should bo afforded every opportunity for undergoing the physical instruction course laid down for puplie school teachers. He would consider the question of making arrangements for tho supply of school journals to private primary schools.