THE EDUCATION BILL.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 247, 24 July 1872, Page 3

THE EDUCATION BILL.

A meeting of the supporters of the secular system of education was held last evening at the Mechanics’ Institute, for the purpose of arranging means for ottaining signatures to a petition, to the House of Assembly, in the terms of the amendment proposed and declared carried at the late public meeting held at the Mechanics’ Institute.

Mr Hollis was voted to the chair, and read the advertisement convening the meeting. The Chairman said the object in advertising the meeting was that nothing should be done sub rosa, hut that all should know what was doing. It would be necessary to forward a petition to the House of the Assembly, to appoint canvassers, and a committee, and to adopt such measures as the meeting might approve of. Mr Power inquired if a petition had not already been argeed upon at a previous meeting.

The Chairman replied in the affirmative, but said that the meeting held at the Wesleyan school had been a private one, but tiiis was a public meeting, and it would be for the meeting to express its opinion on the subject. He read the following petition ; “ To the Honourable the Members of the House of Representatives of the Colony of New Zealand. “The petition of tho undersigned inhabitants of the district of Thames, in the Province of Auckland, New Zealand, humbly slioweth that your petitioners have learned with satisfaction that it is proposed to introduce a measure at the approaching session of Parliament, for the purpose of providing for the more extended diffusion of elementary iusti uction, and for the elevation of the standard of popular education throughout the Colony. They arc prepared to give their cordial approbation to any measure which will insure to the people of New Zealand a broad, liberal, and national system of education. That your petitioners believe that any legislation on this very important sunject should be such as will enuole tli advantages of the public s hods to be shared by all on equal terms, whatever may tie their religious creed or opinions. Your petitioners are convinced that an} scheme which affords State aid to denominational schools will tie unjust to the taxpayers, as involving a diversion of public funds to sectarian purposes, and that in practice it will lie attended by many serious evils. It is admitted that in older and more populous countries the denomi national system has not worked well, and has’to a great extent failed to meet tlieir educational wants. And your petitioners are firmly of opinion that such a system is peculiarly uuadapted to tlio circumstances of a young and thinly peopled Colony. Your petitioners are therefore opposed to any assistance being granted towards the establishment of denominational schools. May it therefore please your honourable House to pass such au Education Bill into law as will establish Common National Schools on a comprehensive basis, and prevent the application of public money towards sectarian or denominational teaching. And your petitioners, as in duty hound, will ever pray.” —This petition was copy of one presented by the people of Otago, with the omission of the following clause : “ Your petitioners do not seek that the reading of the Bible in schools should be either enjoined or prohibited by the Legislature ; but they are of opinion that the decision of that question should he left to the school committees, subject to the provision of a time table conscience clause.”

Mr Power moved the adoption of the petition. Mr Robertson seconded.

Dr Kilgour inquired if the “ compulsory” clauses of the bill met with the opproval of the meeting? Mr Robertson explained that the object of the meeting was not to consider any new principle other than that contained in the tenns of the amendment proposed and carried at the late public meeting. Mr Hill said it seemed strange that they should take a petition from Otago, and take out the very point upon which they laid so much stress. Mr Swan said he objected to going to Otago for the framework of the petition, aud concurred with the previous speakers. Mr Bagnall said he thought it would be better to have a shorter petition, which would embody the terms of the amendment passed at the public meeting. Mr Power said he was willing to withdraw his motion.

The Rev. Mr Hill proposed that the following be a committee to draw up a petition:—Messrs Hollis, Robertson, Swan, Bagnall, and Dr Kilgour. The Rev. Mr Duller seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Robertson asked if it was thought desiraole to have the signatures of ladies to the petition. Mr Leith deemed this course was not at tlie present stage desirable. Mr Power concurred, observing that there was one lady who gave lectures, who excluded malts altogether from her lectures. He did not think it would be desirable to have ladies’ signatures. Mr Rak moved, aud Mr McNabb seconded, that the election of canvassers be left to the committee. The Chairman said there would be some small expenses to meet, and he wuuld suggest Unit the committee should be authorised to collect small suuscriptious, say Is eacn, to provide ways and means for defraying small expenses. Mr Me lowan ihougiit ilns was throwing too uiueii work on the committee air Robertson proposed that voluntary subscriptions lie invited, and that Mr bain, who had already collected something, he appointed treasurer, aud i£ there

was any surplus that it should lie handed over to the Mechanics’ Institute. Mr Dewar seconded. Mr McGowan proposed that Messrs Bagnall, Rowe, and Dewar he associated with Mr Bain to colh ct subscriptions. Tiiis was agreed to.

A’ proposition by Mr Power that the surplus should ro to the Thames Hospital instead of the Mechanics’ Institute, was not seconded, and consequently fell through. Mr Gray suggested that the petition should be sent through Mr Creighton, a warm advocate of the secular system, instead Mr 'J’Neill. Mr McGowan seconded. A prop- sition by Mr Leith to send the pi-titimi through the Superintendent was not submitted. Mr Swan pointed out that the usual course was to place petitions in the hands of the member for the dislri-t. He thought it would carry more weight if placed in Mr O’Neill’s hands. Mr Robertson thought Mr O’Neill had greatly neglected the district, and therefore he did not-think he was the proper person to he entrusted with the petition ; besides, it was known that Mr O’Neill was hostile to the secular system. Mr Creighton had been throughout a consistent supporter of the secular system. Mr Power said it was only proper that the petition should he presented by Mr O’Neill, as the member for the district, and moved to that effect. Mr Wickham seconded.

Mr J. Rowe thought it was unwise to have a petition entrusted to one who was known to be adverse to the principles which it contained. Mr Heron supported Mr Power’s amendment. The amendment was put and lost, and the original motion carried. The following letter was read by Mr Swan : “ Colonial Secretary’s Office, “ Wellington, July 9, 1872. “ Sir, —In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 29th ult., I have the honour, by direction of Mr Gisborne, to transmit herewith twelve copies of the proposed Education Bill.— I have, &c., “ G. S. Cooper, “Under-Secretary.” Mr Swan said, as soon as the copies of the bill arrived, he would distribute them amongst the clergy of all denominations. The following petition was drawn up by the committee : “ To the Honourable, the House of Representatives, in the Colony of New Zealand in Parliament Assembled.” 1 “The humble petition of the inhabitants of the Thames humbly sheweth— That your petitioners, inhabitants of the Thames, having learned that it is intended to bring before the Legislature a Bill for the better Education of the People of New Zealand represent, respectfully, to your Honourable House. That in any system of Education to he adopted by the Parliament of New Zealand, it is desirable in their opinion that provision should be made solely for Secular or Literary instruction which all children may receive in common,, and that the responsibility of Religions teaching should he thrown upon voluntary effort., and that in accordance with this principle the clauses referring to ‘ Aided Schools,’ within School Districts, and t.lio reading of the Holy Scriptures in Government Schools be expunged fmin the proposed Education Bill, and ycur petitioners, as in duty bound will ever pray.” It was resolved to authorise Messrs L. H. Rea, W, Lecnuer, and R. M. Perstonto canvass for signatures.