SECTARIAN SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1917, Page 8

SECTARIAN SCHOOLS.

NO CONCESSION CAN BE GRANTED. Auckland, March 29. A deputation of about 00, including prominent educationalists and ministers of religion, waited on the Hon. J. A. Hanan this evening for the purpose of expressing appreciation of his attitude in refusing concessions to sectarian schools. Replying, the Minister said he had been in the House about 18 years, and had always pledged himself to uphold the present system. In replying to requests since the war for concessions for sectarian schools, he liad stated he believed they would result in the undermining and disintegration of the present system. He would have been false to his pledges had he acceded to the requests. He deemed a certain principle essential to the maintenance and stability of the national system, and considered it his duy always to maintain those principles. Thousands of men and women in the Dominion owed a great deal to the -State system of education, and they were not now going to . alter it so as to deny similar benefits to ; those who followed. He was convinced the members of the deputation stood for the great* body of public opinion throughout the Dominion. He thought no Minister for Education and no Gov ; ernment having regard for the principle of education and t!— interests i at stake dare depart from them and allow concessions that would ultimately I lay the national system in ruins.