New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1874. THEY WRIGGLE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 49, 4 April 1874, Page 5

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1874. THEY WRIGGLE.

Whc ? Some Palmerston folks. Ever since last Sunday week, when Bishop Moran told the congregation of St. Joseph's the story about a certain School Board, which we published last week, these worthy gentlemen have been sorely exercised in spirit. His Lordship mentioned no names, but these Palmerston people have been so good as to regard his statement as a cap that fits themselves, and have been ever since labouring energetically to wear it. It would be ft pity to disabuse them, or deprive them of whatever gratification they may derive from the process.

But the admissions of these gentlemen are important, and well woith notice and discussion. It appears that something very like what Dr. Moran described did really take place at Pahnerston. Could it have been a coincidence 1 The office of master in the Government school there was vacant ; applications for the situation were invited. Amongst others a gentleman with an Irish name applied. One of the committee, in a letter published by him in a Dunedin paper, admits that his nationality was discussed by the committee ; why or wherefore does not appear. Simple people that we are, we were under the impression that neither nationality nor religion should be discussed at a school committee meeting called for the purpose of electing a teacher for a Government school. But then, we suppose, we must be altogether wrong, as we are Catholics, and happen to be in the minority in this province.

But really this "One of the Committee" who has so kindly enlightened the public on the internal affairs of the Palmerton School Committee to a certain extent, ought in fairness, and we are foolish enough of course to think, in candour too, to have told the whole truth. He ought, we fancy, to have stated also that one of the committee said during the discussion that he did not think the applicant with the Irish name was an Irishman, as he had known one of the same name in Balclutha who was an Englishman, and that it was very unlikely ho was either an Irishman or a Catholic, for if an Irishman he was most probably a Catholic, and Bishop Moran would not consent to a Catholic accepting the office. It would not, however, be quite prudent to make this acknowledgment, as it would be calculated to show that after all it was most probable at least that his supposed Catholicity was an insurmountable obstacle to the appointment^ thejipplicant with the Irish name.

The Rev. Mr. Clarke says he did not make a house to house visitation, urging the people to "use their influence with the committee not to appoint the gentleman with the Irish name. The rev. gentleman, however, admits he did visit members of the committee for the purpose of inducing them not to appoint this gentleman. Mr Clarke may not have asked householders, in so many words, to use their influence with the committee, but there are many ways of doing some things. Suppose Mr Clarke went from house to house speaking of the impending School Committee meeting, and deploring the

misfortune it would be to have the applicant with the Irish name elected, would not this be equivaJently urging the people to use theirjinflueuce with the committee to prevent hie election 1

Another strange fact connected with this affair is the Rev. Mr Clarke's statement that he opposed the election of the applicant with the Irish name because of bad spelling in his letter to the committee. How did Mr Clarke find this out ? We were led to believe that the law, in order to secure perfect impartiality, and to give no one denomination any advantage over another, had purposely excluded clergymen from all share in the administration of the public education of the Province. Now, however, it appears from his own admission that the Rev. Mr Clarke of Palmerston is perfectly acquainted with the secrets of the committee, and exercises a decided influence. He says he acted as a father solicitous for tbe proper education of his children. But he is a clergyman, and cannot divest himself of that character in this business A letter appeared in the • Daily Times,' signed " The successful candidate who withdrew his application," and we understand that this letter has been regarded as a full refutation of Bishop Moian's statement. It is strange how little in the way of argument will satisfy people whose prejudices Hre stiong. It never struck these people that this letter, to use a vulgar word, was a lark. The successful candidate who withdrew his application is a myth, for the gentleman who is supposed to have written this letter had resigned his pretensions, having withdrawn his application before the day appointed for the election of master for the Palmerston school. We must refuse to believe, then, that the applicant with the Irish name wrote this letter, for though the Jlev. Mr Clarke says he failed iv spelling we cannot bring ourselves to think that he would call himself " the successful candidate who withdrew his application," when it is certain he had not been elected at all.

These Palmerston people, then, may continue to wear the cap if they wish, and may rest assured that on their own showing the public will hold them guilty of bigotry, and what is worse in the estimation of many of the folly of showing their hands, let them wriggle as they please.