NATIONAL EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9954, 25 April 1918, Page 3

NATIONAL EDUCATION

THE POLICY OF THE P.P.A.

KECaSKT DEVELOPMENTS CON 1 - DEItSEI).

The maintenance of the national system of education is a plank in the- Protestant Political Association’s platform. Pnis fact was brought uuucr the notice of the minister lor ildueation (.lion. J. A. manual by a deputation from that body, introduced by Air J. t>. incksou, Al.i'., and the non. \V. parnsuaw. 'lire lijv. lio»ard iAuoii, saul tlie ProtMlani Po’.mcal Aosuciuiiou bad a very (reunite OvUicatiouai jjoutj. I'ney

unuenonumdiouai and compulsory national .-y.'toin, wi i aoat conce-Aua or pr,viiege in any loim to any denominational or private seliooi. 'may admitted mat lae Juki -l. I ca 10 maintain me national system, but departures Jiad been made winch caused LiiLai gio.ic uoiiceru. tlic Lvalue ui KChoiatr-lups iu oilier than Stale schools had been brought auout quietly, uy means oi an amendment to tne Act suing the Minister, in place oi the linn-, cauon boards, Ino rtgnt to approve or a school jor secondary education by means of a national scholarsiup. 5u Janies -tiled, a tenner Muii.-ier lor litucatiou, had been responsible tor the amendment, unu Had approved of certain denominational schools. National scholarships were now tenable at sever* al colleges, including ti. fatrict’s College. Jar liiliolt condemned the manner in which (he change had been made. A wedge had been driven into the national system ivlncn would split u from tup to ijouom, and me people had no knowledge of it. These concessions, which had been in existence four years, should be discontinued. Mr Marian pointed out that Sir James Aden had relnsed tree places to lioman Catholic schools-

i.\lr Elliott said the refusal teas illogical, and Koiiiim Catholics would not bo slow to remind him of the fact, Protestants had been, misled in the matter, and had liiikcl do realise its bigmiiunnce. In regard to technical education, this was supposed to be conhned to the national scauois, but in some peculiar way a grunt was being made to Roman Ca'iholio .schools -in Dunedin by way of capitation subsidy. Tills a,so was a departure from the national system, and the it Oman Catholic Church would he clamouring for the same concession for 'every school it had. He .protested also against the grant of djlood made last year for the carriage of Homan Catholic children on the railways. This was discriminating against Protestants, who could not get tile same concession if they wished their children to attend another seiioot which tuey prolcired. i’ree railwav passes hod been granted to nuns also. Mr Elliott concluded by declaring that for the past eleven years the trend of amendments had been in the interests of Catholicism, and that the I’.P.A. was prepared to tight ,an election on the education question, which must lie restored to its position as a truly national system. In his reply, the Minister said that the practice of granting scholarships to denominational schools was Introduced before he became Minister. It had been decided by Cabinet recently that the matter should be held over till next session. The scholarships were not confined to Catholic schools, but were extended to Protestant schools. Heplving to Air Elliott, the Minister said that the first grant had been made to St. Mary’s Convent, Orey mouth, and tSio eoctond to Wanganui Collegiate Behooi. Tree places had been refused to an organisation, and ho believed that it was still the opinion of Cabinet (hat these should not bo granted. Ho was not . aware of the number of scholarships tenable in other than State schools which had been granted without reference to him. Concluding, he said tliat, speaking as a member of Parliament, lie was with the association in doing all he could to uphold the national system of education. It would bo a calamity if it were destroyed.