ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15463, 16 December 1915, Page 10

ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

i • EDUCATIONAL DISADVANTAGES. (special to "the press.") i WELLINGTON, December 11. Reference to the Education Act *a s it affects private schools was made at the prize-giving ceremony at St. Patrick's College to-day. The Hector-of the College (the uev. Dr. Kennedy) said that last year tlio Education Act was amended in such a way as to allow scholarships lo be held in Roman Catholic schools, hut it was not generally known that at the sametime another amendment in the Aft took away from the pupils of Catholic schools the chance of receiving free university tuition. Thus what wa.s given with one hand was taken away with, the other. This matter was brought before the Minister of Education recently by the Catholic Federation, and it was submitted to the Council of Education. By eight votes to six the Council carried a resolution to the effect that secondary schools' certificates should be obtained at all registered 'secondary .schools, and that the Minister of Education should be advised to have the Act amended. That was satisfactory so far as it went, but Dr. Kennedy could not say whether the Minister would take the step advised. The whole thing was tantalising, ft was a case of ''Here it is! You haven't got it!" What sort of shuffling was that? Archbishop Red\vood said that expuoik of &t. Patrick's College were acquitting themselves well in various parts of the world, and on that account thos<« interested in the school felt only the more keenly the disadvantages that had been nlaced uiinn Roman Catholics. Certainh- anv man who had the onus" of education at heart inu«.t, truly lament tho petty spirit which iiiKl.Twii shown, but thft PTittpv H-ji* !•> p"wi lipids in tb" hands of th« Catholi" Federation, which would see those matters throueh successfully.