FUNDS WANTED

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11685, 24 November 1923, Page 6

FUNDS WANTED

PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOLS ESTABLISHMENT OF HOSTELS CONSIDERED. VALUABLE WORK DONE. v*er Press Association. CHRESTCHURCII, November 23. Financial help is required by the schools and colleges which ore conducted in connection with the Presbyterian Church, and an appeal was made at to-day’s sitting of the General Assembly for the establishment of scholarships and an endowment fund. Air A. K. Anderson, headmaster of St. Andrew's College, addressed the Assembly. He had been asked to say something about the value of the schools which were established by the church, and ho stated that the schools were doing fine work, and the system Wd resulted in a sound training for the young New Zealanders, hut the Church was not quite satisfied with the strictly secular syatem, and if it selected its teachers wisely its schools would be successful. The State had every right to demand that its inspectors should visit schools which were not under departmental management, and he had always found that the State inspectors had assisted and encouraged their schools. OHRTBTTAiN PRINCIPLES. Mr Anderson asked if it were not possible for the presbyteries to take steps towards establishing scholarships for colleges within their -• districts. Several colleges at the present time re qnired larger premises, and the Church might help in this direction. Direct help was solicited in way of scholarships and an endowment fund. The colleges admitted scholars irrespective of denomination, and had a large number of scholar's of other denominations. The essenoe of the college life was that Christian principles should prevail. Professor Davies moved that the Assembly should express its appreciation of the work done by the colleges. CLASS SCHOOLS? It was stated in a subsequent lengthy discussion that the Church colleges were in financial difficulties, and that a better scheme than the establishment and further expansion of tbe Church schools was that of establishing Presbyterian hostels near State secondary schools. By this means children "would receive religious t raining, and the ordinary education at the State schools It was contended the Ohurch schools at present were olnss schools, and as such should not be supported by funds from the Ohurch as a whole.

A resolution was oarried expressing the Assembly’s appreciation of the work done by the colleges, and again commending them to the favourable consideration of the Church.