INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9269, 3 August 1893, Page 3

INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

The following correspondence has been forwarded to us for publication : — Ponsonby, August 2, 1893. To the Auckland Hoard of Education.

Gentlemen,—l beg to submit the following communication for your careful consideration :—

Department of Education, Wellington, July 28, 1893.

The Right Rev. Bishop Luck, Auckland.

Right Reverend Sir, —I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of July 19, by which you inform him that the Auckland Education Board has refused your application for the inspection of the schools that are under your management. The Minister recognises that under the Education Act ot 1877 the Board has full power to authorise the inspection for which you have applied, and that if the Board were willing, it could, without running counter to the spirit of the Act, comply with your request. He thinks that no danger to the maintenance of the public school system would be involved in such compliance. But, on the other hand, it appears equally clear to him that the Act gives the Board discretion in this matter, and that he has no power to coerce the Board in either direction.

Even if the Minister were of opinion that the words of the ilSr.h section conferred on the managers of private schools a right to demand the inspection that is desired, he would be obliged to hold that he had no power to compel the Board to recognise the right, for in that ease the power to enforce that claim would lie with the managers, and the tribunal would be the Supreme Court. lint, as I have already said, he has no doubt that the itSHi section is not mandatory. Considering that the Board is able to command the services of several inspectors, the Minister feels that he must express a doubt as to whether any financial question has really affected the decision at which the Board has arrived.

With respect to your reference to other private schools the Minister was not aware that the Hoard had authorised the inspection of any such schools, and he is inclined to think that you are under a misapprehension. The Minister had hoped that all ground of complaint with respect to difficulties experienced by private school pupils who desire to obtain standard certificates, had been completely removed by the recognition now extended to standard certificates granted by duly-appointed Catholic inspectors.—l have the honour to he, right rev. sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) W. Jas. llabkxs. With reference to this letter I would advert: —

1. That the Minister fully confirm? the contention that, my rei|uest for the inspection of the schools under my management is entirely within your power, and that in ill.inline; the said inspection yon will be actio.; in conformity with the spirit of the Act.

'2. That the Department declares that such action on your part would in no wise prejudice the system of public education you represent. M. That the reason assigned by me as the basis of your refusal, viz., the increased expenditure, can hardly hi' accepted as a satisfactory explanation. 4. That the unfairness of undertaking the inspection of some private schools to the exclusion of some others is so glaring that the Minister thinks that 1 must be under a misapprehension on this point. Under these (.'irenmstauees I would ask the Board to reconsider their former resolution, and to grant the inspection which I again respectfully reipiest should be accorded to the schools in question.

As considerable interest and sympathy have boon evinced by the public of Auckland in this matter, J would also ask you in the event of a reiterated refusal to assign the reason or reasons which warrant you in (lebarrin.e; these private schools from the enjoyment of a ntiviie-e which the Legislature of this colony allows them, and which, presumably ought not to be denied by the Foard unless it can show good reason tor so doinrr.—Believe me, your faithfully.

•|-.)oHN l-'llMl'Ml Lick, Bishop of Auckland,