ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17262, 1 September 1916, Page 8

ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. CLAIMS OF CATHOLIC FEDERATION. [Pin Press Association'.] WELLINGTON, August 31. A deputation from the Now Zealand Catholic Federation waited upon tho Minister of Education to-night to lay before him certain claims on behalf of Roman Catholic schools throughout the Dominion. The deputation vra.3 composed of Dean Regnault, Father Caughey and Messrs D. L. Popplewell, Jd. Girling Butcher. J. Doolan, J. J. Burke and Fitzgerald. Mr Poppievveli, the principal .spokesman, said that some time ago a previous deputation had told the Minister that they considered there should be some slight amendment,in tho administration of the Education Department in regard to certain details. They now wished to put before him witn emphasis tlieir position on some points, 'liio federation represented about oneseventh of tho population of JNew Zealand. They paid tlieir taxes disproportionately. A large number of tnem bad gone to tho war, and they naturally claimed the right to share in the privileges enjoyed by the generality of people residing in tho Dominion. 'lne points they wished particularly to refer to concerned, the Education Department, and tho hist related to the holding of scholarships at Catholic secondary schools. The Department was good enough to concede that certain Catholic secondary schools should be recognised as schools at which scholarships could be held, but the Federation considered that owing to tho limited number of such schools some ' special arrangements should bo made to meet their requirements. Then there was the question of medical inspection of schools. Some time ago the Minister had told them he was prepared to place them on tho same footing as other schools in the matter. Medical inspection had become an accomplished fact in some schools since then, but he understood that when they asked for mo.iical inspection of their schools tin reply was that there were insufficient inspectors to go round and, therefore, tho system could not be extended to Catholic schools. The Catholic Federation then offered to find doctors themselves amongst their own people, provided that a, por capita grant was paid in the same way as in the case of Government medical inspectors, but that was refused. There was also the question of free passes ou the railways for thoso who wished to attend their * schools for primary pupils. For twenty to twenty-five years past pupils resident at Port Chalmers and Oaversham had been allowed free passes to attend the Dunedin Catholic Boys’ School, but now free passes are disallowed both at Port Chalmers and at Oaversham, an exception being made only in the case of a boy at Caversham with only one leg who was allowed it free pass. There was also the question of tho issue of the “School Journal” to the various Catholic schools. So far that concession had not been made. Free places and scholarsliips seemed to the-; to be on the same principle, thou" free places, of course, affected a larger number of pupils and they asked th. t free places should be conceded. Then in regard to the Council of Education direct representation had been conceded under the Act to male and female teachers and to various other representative bodies but not to teachers in registered schools. Tho Federation asked that the first opportunity should bo taken of having added to the council one or perhaps more representatives of the teachers in registered schools. In reply the Hon J* A. Hanan said that the last time tho Federation had waited upon him certain questions were brought under his notice and as he considered that questions, of policy were involved, ho held that it was his duty to bring them before Cabmet. That ho had done. The questions were as to the tenure of scholarships at private schools, capitation grant, free railway passes, free supply of the ‘ School Journal,” etc., and they had asked him for a straightforv ard reply'. He was going to give it to them. The view of the National Cabinet was that to grant their wishes would be directly opposed to the principles of the existing system of national education. Tin National Government —he thought he was representing it correctly in saying sc—stood for the present system of euucation, and was, therefore, not favourable to the granting of any concessions which would ultimately lead to the undermining of their national system,, to tha breaking up and ruin of the State system of education. If the suggested capitation payments for free places in Roman Catholic secondary schools were granted, it would mean that the State was supporting private secondary schools. The number of those was increasing under present conditions, and if capitation payments were granted it would probably lead to such an increase as would break down entirely the State system of education, both primary and secondary. How could the State refuse capitation grants to private primary schools if the suggested grants were allowed ? The State provided for the distribution of readers and other hooks as well as the “ School Journal,” and there was no more reason for supplying “Journals” to private schools than" for providing them with readers or other books. “ From these claims,” added Mr Hanan, “thewhole question arises: Are we to have a national or denounce a national system of education? That is tho point, so far as lam concerned. lam charged with maintaining the present, system, free, secular and compulsory, and I am nob able to grant any concessions that may be asked for that would violate either policy or principles in relation thereto.” With regard to the medical inspection of schools, said the Minister, he did not regard it as strictly educational work. It was carried out through the medium of the schools as a matter of convemei*:e and efficiency. At present there were very few inspectors, and they were unable to cope with tho whole of the work, but he hoped to he able to add to the number so that they could couo with the whole of the children in New Zealand, irrespective of schools.