ROMAN CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13662, 2 September 1916, Page 3

ROMAN CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

BEQUESTS FOE CONCESSIONS,

THE MINISTER.OF EDUCATION

EMPHATIC,

A POINT BLANK REFUSAL,

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON,-August .11

A deputation from the Now Zealand Catholic Federation waited upon the Minister of Education.to-night to lay before him certain claims on behalf of Catholic schools throughout the Dominion. The' deputation was composed of Dean Regnnult, Father C'aughey, and Messrs D, L. Poppelwcll, 11, Girling Butelier, ,1. Doolan, .!, J. Burke, and Fitzgerald.

Mr Popplewell, who was the principal spokesman, said that some time ago, on the occasion of a previous deputation, they had told the Minister that, they considered there should be some slight 'amendment in the administration of the Education Department with, regard to certain details. They'now wished,to put before him, with emphasis, their position on the same points. The federation represented alioiit one-seventh of the population of New Zealand. They paid- their taxes disproportionately, A large number of fJiein had gone to the war, and-they naturally claimed a right to a share in the privileges enjoyed by the. generality of the people residing in the Dominion. The points they wished 1 particularly to refer to concerned the Education Department, and the first related to the' holding of scholarships at Catholic secondary schools. The Department was good enough to concede that certain. Catholic, secondary schools should be re' cognised as schools at which scholarships could be held, but the federation considered that, owing to the limited

number of such schools, some special arrangements should be made to meet their requirements. Then there was the question of the medical inspection of schools. Some time ago the Minister had told them that he was prepared to place them on the same footing as other schools in the- matter of medical inspection. This had become an accomplished fact in some schools since then, but he understood, that when they asked for the medical inspection of their schools the reply was that there were insufficient inspectors to go,round, and 1 therefore the system could not be extended to Catholic schools. The Catholic Federation then offered to find doctors themselves amongst' their own people; provided - that a per capita grant was paidvin-tlic 'same; way as in the case of the, Government medical inspectors, hiit'.that was refused, ffhere was also tlie question .of; free passes on railways for those who wished'to attend their schools for primary pupils. For twenty to twenty-five years ; past pupils resident at Port' Chalmers and Caversham had been allowed free passes to attend the DunGdin Cfi'tholic-'Boys\School, but' now free; passes are disallowed both, at Port ■Chalmers arid at Caversham, an exception being made only in the case of a boy at 'Caversham. with one leg, 'who was-allowed a free pass. There was also the question 'of the issue of the School .Journal, to various Catholic schools,, go far that concession had not been made. Free places and scholarships seemed to them to. be on the same principle; though free places, of course, affected' thQ larger number of pupils, ' : anu,'th'ey askeil-ih^t --free'lplaces be conof Educatiori,.direct''.re'presentation had been under 1 the Act to male and female, .teachers and to various other representative bodies, but not to teachers,'in. registered schools,' The federation asked•' that the first opportakeii of: having added to the or, perhaps, more representatives of/teachers in,-registered schools, , in reply,',,Mr'Hanan said the last 'time tlie .'federation, had waited upon ( him certain questions were brought .■under his notice, and as ho considered questions of policy were involved he heid that it was his duty to bring them before the .Cabinet, That* lie had done. The- questions were as- to the tenure of scholarships, private schools capitation. grant, free railway passes, free supply of School Journal," etc., and they had asked him for a straightforward 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 thc'principles of the .existing system of national 'education. The National Government—lie thought he was representing them correctly in saying so—stood for the present'system of education, and' was therefore not favourable to the granting of any concessions which would ultimately lead to tlie undermining of their national system, to the breaking and ruin of the State system of education. If the suggested capitation payments for free places in Catholic secondary schools were granted it .would mean that the state was supporting private secondary schools. The number of those was increasing, under present condition's, 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 Headers ■ and other books as well as the School Journal, and there was no more reason for supplying copies of the Journal to private schools than for providing them with Headers or other books. "From these claims," added Mr Hanan, "the whole question arises: Are we to have national or denounce the national system of education'? That is.the point so far as I am concerned. I am charged with maintaining the present system free, secular, and compulsory, and J am not able to grant any concessions that may be asked for that would violate either the policy or the principles in re- . lation thereto," With regard to the medical inspection of schools, the Minister said Jie did not regard .it as strictly educational work, It was carried out through the medium of the schools as a matter of convenience and efficiency. At present there were very few inspectors, and they were unable to cope with .the whole of the work, but he hoped to be able to add to the number, so that they could cope with the whole of the children in New Zealand irrespective of schools.