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New Zealand Mail, Issue 658, 3 October 1884, Page 20

We must congratulate Mr Steward on his success in securing the second reading

of the School Committees Election Bill. It is true that the majority could not have been smaller, but still it was sufficient to advance the Bill a stage, and it may be that the most formidable part ot the opposition is now over. The stock argument for leaving the system of electing school committees as it is at present is that under it the Roman Catholics have the opportunity, or the chance, of returning members if they desire to do so. Some will say that the system is intended for the benefit of minorities generally, but that is not the usual cry. Remove the Roman Catholic difficulty, or what is alleged to be the Roman Catholic difficulty, and Mr Steward could secure a very much larger majority ; in fact we believe the opposition would dwindle down almost to nothing. But the Catholics say distinctly that they care not at all about how the committees are elected. They will have nothing to do with the State system of education, and therefore are not interested in its minor details. Our view of the case is that, if they were disposed to avail themselves of the system, they ought to do so. on an equality with their fellow-colonists, and that there is no necessity for special provisions to secure their representation. If they came forward and showed their readiness to share in the work of the committees, at the same time sending their children to the schools, a fair pro - portion of Catholics would be returned. Of that we have not the slightest doubt. We think Mr Steward has made out a very good case for his Bill, and we trust he will be as successful in committee as .he was with the second reading.