"PREJUDGING OF QUESTIONS"

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27916, 13 March 1956, Page 10

"PREJUDGING OF QUESTIONS"

COMMITTEES’ REMITS CRITICISED HOLY NAME SOCIETY’S PETITION (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 12. “The national council of the Roman Catholic Holy Name Society’ is surprised that the Dominion Federatior of School Committees' Association ha; prejudged the question of financia relief for private schools, before th< case is heard in Parliament,” said th national president of th<> society <M W. S. Otto) in Auckland. “The federation adopted two remit at its Christchurch conference o>* Wednesday,” said Mr Otto. “One opposed financial assistance by the State to private schools, and the other sun- . ported the present system of free, compulsory. and secular education. “The views of the federation are respected. and the right to state its case has already been claimed for it by’ the Holy Name Society,” Mr Otto said. ■ “but surely, in the present circumstances, it would have been proper to have conducted its deliberations in committee.” He said that his council was pleased to note the request of the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algiei that, as the question of financial assistance for private schools would have to be faced this year, it should be discussed objectively so that the Government would be given the best possible intimation of the will of the people.

It is for these very reasons.” said Mr Otto, “that the Holy Name Society will present a petition to Parliament early in this year’s second session of the House of Representatives.”

It had already extended an open invitation to all interested parties to give evidence, either for or against the plea of the petition, said Mr Otto. All that was asked was that the just claim of a minority section of the community should be examined impartially. free of prejudice, emotion or sectarianism.

“Parliament is the proper place for the presentation of both evidence and argument,” said Mr Otto, “and I feel sure that in accordance with tradition. the New Zealand press will not condone any attempt to promote controversy’, which can serve no useful purpose, and will only cloud the issue.”