PRIESTS & BROTHERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 47, 24 August 1917, Page 7

PRIESTS & BROTHERS

BEFORE MILITARY SERVICE

BOARD

THEOLOGICAL STUDENT SEOTi

INTO CAMP.

■Appeals heard before the Third Military Service Board to-day concerned a' Catholic* priest, a theological, student, and three Marist Brothers. Mr. H. F« O'Leary supported the appeals.

The first case taken was that of Fatbw Harnetti of Opunake. Mr. O'Leary put in a certificate showing that Bather Har-. uett was a duly ordained priest, and one from Archbishop O'Shea indicating that the position was exactly the same as-be-fore. He stated that appellant's case, was previously adjourned sine die. Mr. Mack asked whether Father Harnett had been medically examined, and he'was informed that there was no re-, co/d of the fact. Air. Mack : Then why should we go on with i his appeal until he has been examined? We don't in other cases. Capt. Baldwin (military representative.) statedl that instructions were given not to examine men in classes which were being exempted as a. general rule. The board dscided on a further "adjournment sine die SENT TO CAMP. ' " . The.appeal on behalf of J. J. Riordan,_ theological student, Napier, was taken next. . ■ ■ . ■ : Mr. O'Leary stated that he had; no new facts to place, before the board, and he presumed that the appeal wouldbe dismissed, as was done in a previous case, and the appellant recommended for . service in the N.Z.M.C. The Chairman intimated that the pro--posed course; would be followed. . POSITION OF MARIST TEACHERS. Consideration was then given to appeals' on behalf of three Marist brothers —J. F. Welsh, D. J Cody, and M. Jackson. The first case had not been before the board previously, but in the other two adjournments sine die .hid been granted. The board reconsidered . the ■: very full evidence taken when Brother :' Cody's appeal was first heard. All appellants were actively engaged in.teaching, and Mr. O'Leary stated -that the position was considerably worse. In , Wellington City 450 boys 'were now being taught, a3 against 420 when evidence 1 iyas last given. In the whole of New Zealand the boys attending Marist schools had increased from 1850 to nearly 2000. , There had been no increase in the number of teachers.V. • . Brother. Egbert, head of the. Marist. School at Newtown, verified the'figures • given above. He stated that each teacher, on the average, taught-56 children. In the ,whole .of the -Wellington district there ■;were 650 boys taught by 14 brothers—an average of about 46 per teacher. In the whole of New Zealand about 1950 boys were. taught by 47 brothers—*,n exchange of. 41^. The number looked upon by the educational. . authorities as the maximum wfaich should. - be under the control of one teacher was 40. In Wellington and Auckland there were brothers' teaching over 60 pupils.' Six brothers were over-age, but. the.majority were under 40, and were in the f First Division only by the fact that they ;■ had remained unmarried in order to ■'■. carry on then' woi-k. Only four brothers "■ had been medically examined, and bniv of them was passed as fit, : ■ ."■■■ Mr. s[ack suggested ' that . all the . brothers should be medically examined before further evidence was taken. They , might be wasting time. .. The Chairman said the question 'was,: Would the country suffer unduly if, the Mari6t Brothers were, taken. -

A QUESTION OF HARDSHIP,

Mr. O'Leary said there was also-the question of hardship, as far as it concerned the large amount^of money which had bean sunk in the erection and equipment of the schools—money sacrificed by the Catholic community for the pnrpoee mentioned. ■„ ■•'.,■

The Chairman: I hardly think so.

Mr. O'Leary: I understand there is something "in the Act relating to the undue hardships.of individuals, and bodies. If the point I mentioned is not going to be considered, the provision might just as well not be there.

The Chairman: The hardship would not be comparable to that of a man who had to leave a poor relative. , The witness then, at the request of ths board, went into great detail. In answer' to Captain Baldwin, Bro.; Egberf stated that several men had come from Australia to New Zealand since the war, but they were very shorthanded there now, and they could not spare any more men. Throughout Australasia there were about 150 Marist Brothers. There was a. training college in Sydney in order to secure a supply, of teachers, and about seven or / eight were turned out each year as qualified. . ' ...

PASSING RICH ON £60 A YEAR. Mr. Mack: Why can't female teachers be used in the schools? ■

Bro. Egbert: "We nave not, got the money to pay them." A3l the' money for the upkeep of the schools was provided voluntarily. ■ \blv. Mack: If. a brother was taken, could not Ms-money go to pay a female teacher ?

Brother, Egbert hesitated, and 'Captain Baldwin asked him: "How much are you paid?". • Bra. Egbert: In money from £60 to £80. ■'■■'■-. 1 Mr. Mack: That woiild ;pay for a female teacher. , .

Captain Baldwin, (to Mr. Mack): Have you seen the advertisements for female teachers?" The boards pay more than that.

Bro. Egbert: I might say that one of my pupils left me the other day and started in the • Government service. .at £78. ■.'•'-■ . . ..■/■'.

.'Mr. "Mack: Of course, you are found? —No; we pax.onr.own board and lodg- y ing. Bro. Egbert, continuing, rectified his previous figure by saying that tho Marist Brothers in New Zealand totalled 43. Female teachers could not teach in the Marist schools.

Decision was.held over until further information is to hand'from the Education Department relative to the position in State and Catholic schools. ? .■ i