SECTARIAN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9622, 30 March 1917, Page 5

SECTARIAN SCHOOLS

NO CONCESSIONS CAN BE GRANTED. I'rcsa Association. AUCKLAND. March 29. A deputation of about sixty, including prominent educationists and ' ministers of religion, waited on the Hon. J. A. Hunan this evening for the purpose of expressing appreciation ot his attitude in sefusing concessions to scetarian schools. Replying, the Minister said he had boon in the House about eighteen years, and had always pledged himself to uphold the present system. In. replying to requests since the war for concessions for sectarian schools, hu had stated he believed they would result in the undermining and disintegration of the present system. He would have been false to his pledges had ho aocadod to the requests. Ho deemed a certain principle essential to thy maintenance and stability of the national system, and considered it Ids duty always to maintain those principles. Thousands of men and women in tho Dominion owed a great deal to tho State system of education, and thov were not now going to altor it so as to deny similar benefits to those who followed. Ho was .convinced tho membrws of tho deputation stood for tho great body of public opinion throughout the Dominion. Ho thought no Minister for Education and no Government having regard for the principle of national education and the interests at stake dare depart Horn thorn and allow concessions that would ultimately lay the national astern m ruins*.