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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5184, 20 September 1878, Page 2

The case in favor of Mr Curtis's Education Bill was probably better put by Mr Seymour, the member for Wairau, than by the introducer of the measure. • Mr Seymour argued that the denominational question had been made more of, in connection with the bill before the House, than the case warranted, because the bill contained provisions so restrictive as to have scarcely a trace of denominationaliam in it. He then proceeded to show that what was proposed by Mr. Curtis's measure was very much akin to the provision in the existing Act respecting outlying districts, the only difference between the two being that the amending bill sought to make the provision general instead of confining it to outlying districts. That is perhaps as strong an argument for the measure as any that could be adduced, but strongly opposed as it is by the Government, we fear it has no chance of passing. On this point Mr Sheehan was so explicit, that there can scarcely be any question as to the ultimate fate of the bill. " The hon. gentleman," he said, " has appealed to the occupants of the Ministerial benches not to oppose the bill. I will answer him at once, and say that I will oppose it straight and thoroughly. . . . In the first place he tells us that, because the objection on the part of the Roman Catholic is a conscientious objection, we cannot discuss it, cannot judge or weigh it, but must allow it. Why, sir, supposing a sect were to start who had an objection to pay taxes — the land tax, for instance, or the beer tax — are we to be shut out from making them pay on account of their religious scruples 1 . . . There is no man in this" House more called upon than I am to speak on this question. I am an Irishman and a Catholic, and proud of being both. My Irish claim is barred to some extent by the fact that I was born in the colony. My Catholic claim is barred by the fact that I am told in the organ that represents the Catholic views that I am a bad Catholic. Let me be so. Let me tell the people who say -so to remember the parable of the Pharisee who went up to the Temple' to pray. lam content to be the humble publican ; let them be the Pharisees. I will stop at the Temple door ; let them go up and tell tho Lord what they have clone for him. I intend to oppose this bill."