P.P.A. CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 125, 27 May 1919, Page 9

P.P.A. CONFERENCE.

SCHOOL? AND SECTARIANISM. WELLINGTON. Monday. The council of the Protestant Political I Association concluded its annual sittings to-day. The powers of the Dominion Executive were enlarged, and the work _ of the organisation, both political and j financial, was ordered to be expedited j and completed. Generous response waa ) made by the representatives of the : various divisions financially, and a most optimistic tone prevailed. The following motion was passed:— '"This council directs the attention of the | ! Government to the suppression of the ! religion ot convicted persons from the i official yearbook, thereby removing from ' ! the people a valuable proof of the su- | i periority of the value of the State system 'j of education, as against denominational j j education, and calls upon the Govern- ' ment to have these statistics reinstated, ]I as their removal is without the authority of Parliament, and against the interests of the people." The urgent need of establishing a State orphanage was affirmed. Another ' ■ resolution adopted was as follows: "This [ council unites with the Protestants of the Empire in protesting against the , : presence of an envoy of the British Government at the Vatican, as being unconstitutional, and an insult to the loyal Protestants of every Dominion, and tha.t tne executive communicate with Protestant organisations throughout the Erne pire, with a view to a strong united ~ protest." h The action of the Minister for Cust I tome and the Attorney-Gcr.c-al in prohibiting certain Protestant literature on the subject of national education, was condemned. The following resolution was passed: " (1) This council, affirming its appreciation of, and devotion to the presenl system of free, compulsory and undenominational education, calls upon the Government to safeguard its schools by providing- that the concessions already made * to sectarian schools be withdrawn, and C r no further concessions be made. That ' the Government support the national system of education, hy providing for the pupils of State schools, a fair proportion r of Civil Service appointments; (2) that ' an adequate vote (£5,000,000) be pro- . vided for the development of an educational scheme on modern lines, to enable provision to be made for children, and | adequate remuneration to teachers."