THE EDUCATION ACT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1758, 19 October 1887, Page 2

THE EDUCATION ACT.

PETITION OP CATHOLICS AGAINST

THE PRESENT STSTEM.

(per press association.)

WELLINGTON, October 18.

The Catholics of Wellington are about to petition Parliament re Education Act. Tbe petition sets forth that Catholics are required by their faith to hold, ami do reasonably and conscientiously bold, that their children should be taught in school religion and morality, along with secular knowledge. Consequently, the present purely secular system of education, as established under the Education Act of 1877, is utterly repugnant to their conscientious convictions. That, while they are compelled to contribute to maintain the system of State education, from which they derive no adequate advantage, the receive no State aid for highly organised and most efficient schools which they approve, and which they have erected and maintained throughout the colony at great co6t and sacrifice, affording thereby a sound education with careful moral training to thousands of children, aud thus practically saving annually for the State many thousands of pounds. That they are of opinion that this grievance would be effectually redressed, and tbe finances of the colony greatly relieved by State grants in nid of denominational schools, for secular kuowiedge only, up to a required standard, under Government inspection.