EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 156, 30 June 1914, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

DEPUTATION TO.THE MINISTER. ; [Br imHsßAPa.~" vtsss iSSOCUHOX.] WEtuKOTON, Monday. The Minister for Education (the Hon. .Tames Allen) was waited on this afternoon by a deputation representing the New Zealand Catholic Federation, which laid before him some important phases of the education question, as they affect the Catliolics of- New Zealand. The deputation was introduced by Mr. A. H. Hind-

marsh, M.P., Archbishop O'Shea said that tffe deputation represented the Catholic Federation, - consisting of 80,000 citizens of the Dominion. The Catholics, be stated, were • labouring under certain educational disabilities, especially in regard to scholarships, They understood that the Government proposed to bring in this session an amendment to the Education Act, and he hoped that it would be made, clear in that measure that Catholic scholars who won Education Board scholarships should be entitled to hold ' them when attending Catholic secondary schools, which were regarded as "equivalent" to State secondary schools. While several of the education boards allowed scholarships from private primary schools to be tenable at secondary schools attached to the Catholic denomination, other boards had refused -. ti» privilege. Tho deputation therefore asked the Minister to in/sort a clause in the Amending Education Act, making it imperative that scholarships won by pupils attending primary schools should be tenable at private secondary schools, providing that such secondary schools were certified by inspectors as being educationally equivalent to the Government institutions. i'ha speaker urged that the School Journal should bo supplied free to Catholic schools, as the cost was borne by the Catholio taxpayer equally with othors. With regard to physical instruction, the Government was asked to provide private instruction to teachers and "boys, and instructors to visit girls' schools, as Catholic teachers, being members of a religious order, were unable to attend instructional camps. Mr. Allen, in replying, said that ho would be sorry to think that any board considered tho matter of secondary schools from the denominational point of view. Perhaps the deputation could tell him privately what boards had acted in tho way mentioned, and it might give some weight to their argument He had found the law as it was, and endeavoured to administer it to the best of his ability. Ho was bringing down an Education Bill this session, and if he found that Catholics were suffering an injustice, the question would receive every consideration. He expressed pleasure to hear that tho Catholics were interested in the School Journal, and he would go into the matter. Speaking of physical training, the Minister declared his desire to see the scheme benefit all, but he did not know why it should be impossible for their nude teachers to attend instruction camps, ' Kicarding female teachers, he had seen J eight or ten sisters at tho Masterton camp, and while anxious to avoid anything likely to interfere with their tenets, he con.sidered it,, an excellent thing for their teachers to mix with State teachers. He was afraid it was quite impossible to pro- ' vide 'separate' instruction or subsidy. Ho recognised the sacrifices which Catholios made in the matter of education, and was ■.: prepared, to, help them all he could with-' out doing anything to "destroy the national scheme. /,.,;.,• '.;', -,!-