THE CATHOLICS AND THE EDUCATION ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 971, 12 September 1878, Page 2

THE CATHOLICS AND THE EDUCATION ACT.

A very strong and united movement is on foot amongst the Roman Catholie population of the colony to urge upon the Assembly the adoption of Mr Curtis' Amended Education Act. which is receiving considerable support in the House and for which we learn that the member for Waipa will vote. The following is the petition which the Very Rev. H. TR\ Pynes, V.G. purposes sending for presentation and which has been numerously signed :

The Honorable Speaker and the Honorable Membeis of the House of Representatives of the Colony of New Zealand in session assembled. The memorial of the undersigned Rom m Catholics of the district of Dedwood, Auckland, most respectfully showeth : That your memorialists views with pleasure the intention of your honorable House to' reconsider in part the Education Act, and to so amend it as to enable the Roman Catholic portion of the colonists of New Zealand to avail themselves of its pro visions, That your memori a lj s t 8 pleao* conscientious scruples sgainst the acceptance of the Education Act in Us unamended form. 'lhat your memorialist? claim attention to their prayer on the ground of justice, contributing as they do with their fellow-colonists towards the revenue from which the moneys are taken to support the present Act. Thit your memorialists, whilst they would not pre sumo to dictate to your honorable Home, yet would respectfully state provisions somewhat similar to those contain d in the Act known as the Nel<oa Educator. Act, might be so framed as to meet th-i requirements of your memorialists, an \ as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

The Bill of Mr Curtis' referred to coatains one clause, as follows : Whenever any twenty-flVe or more householders in any education district shall signify |in writing to the Education Board of such district their desire to be constituted into a sepsrate body for eduoational purposes, it shall be the duty of the Board to convene a meeting of such householders for the elec ion of a School committee in the manner provider! in Part 111. of "The K lucatiou Act. 1877 ;" and it shall be lawful for thBoard to grant to the Committee So elected such aide in books, school apparatus, and money, as the Board shall think expedient, or, at the option of the Committee, such aid may be gi anted in money only, inclusive of the value of such books and school apparatus as would otherwise be supplied by the Board : Provided always that every such Committee shall provide a schoolhouse or schoolhouses to the satisfaction of tho B >ard, and shall appoint and pay the teacher or teachers of such school or schools, every such teacher having first been duly qualified under the provisions of section forty-five of the said Act: Provided also that all books used in any such school shall be approved by the Board, and that in every respect wherein no special exception is made in this section every such school shall be a public school under the said Act, and subject to provisions which the said Act makes for the conduct, management, and inspection of public schools ; and that every school be open to all children between the ages of fi>e and fifteen ye »rs without fee or payment of any kind.