CORRESPONDENCE

Grey River Argus, 29 March 1928, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

AN EDUCATIONAL INJUSTICE. Sir, —The report of the awarding of the Seddon Medals, contained in today’s ( ‘Argus,” should bo read and studied by all justice-loving people. Here we» have our M.P., Mr Seddon, uttering flattering words to the Sisters of Mercy, skillfully mentioning his late fatheir, and referring to tho advantages enjoyed by children to-day. Does it occur to Mr Seddon that every Catholic child is doubly penalised in order to enjoy a Catholic education? Omitting the question of remuneration for the Sisters, I would remind Mr Seddon, as our representative in Parliament, that Catholic children have to pay twice for the ‘‘School Journal,” viz., once when their parents pay their rates and taxes, and once more when the ‘‘Journal” is delivered. Why? If I pay a shopman for an article in advance, and he demands payment again upon delivery of the article, he is liable to punishment; why, then, is the Education Department allowed to practice such barefaced injustice? In effect, the Education Department says: ‘‘Go to tho State School, and you get the ‘Journal’ without further payment; go to a private school and we make you pay again. ’ ’ But if Catholic children go to the State Schools, where is the accommodation, and where are thci teachers? The Education Department is wailing over the expense now. If Mr Seddon’s remarks are sincere, and he admires his father’s furtherance of education, he will endeavour, during next session ,to have this great wrong righted. Tf it is not sheer robbery, please, Somebody, give it a name! Trusting you can find space for publishing this, Sir, I am, etc., A PROTESTANT ENGLISHMAN. Greymouth, March 28, 1928.