CATHOLICS AND EDUCATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue 12998, 10 November 1916, Page 5

CATHOLICS AND EDUCATION.

Per Pjiess Association. • Christchurch, November 10. At a big meeting of Catholics last night in tiie Collosseum,' presided- over by Bishop Brodie, the education question was discussed. Addresses were given by ?>t. Doyle (Timnru), M. Guin.ness and H. F. Doogan (Greymouth), Father Ainsworth S. Ryan tßangiora), JI. Barry (Fairlie), D. L. Poppolwell (Gore), J. Kennedy (Gernldine). and Bishop Brodie. A motion was^'carried —"That the system of education uijder which oneseventh of the taxpayers were excluded from, participating in its benefits is neither a just nor a national system, and this meeting expresses a hope that the Government will take into consideration the desirableness _of making the New Zealand education system a truly national one, by recognising and incorporating in it all registered schools certified by Sfate inspectors as officiant as bad been done in England, Canada, and other parts of the Empire." A further motion was unanimously carried—"That this meeting protests against the injustices inflicted 011 Catholic children by their exclusion from the full benefits of scholarships, free places, medical inspection, and free swimming tuition, and other benefits, of which the Catholic parents- as taxpayers contribute their full quota, and calls upon the department _to remove this peculiarly unjust discrimination." Another motion passed was that this meeting expresses appreciation of, the cood work accomplished by the Catholic federation, and pledges itself to-increase its membership and further its interests' in everv way.

Bishop Brodie paid a tributo to Bishop Julius (Anglican Bishop of Christchurch), in giving half his .episcopal income to th<j. education oF-,Ghris-tian children, and added: "As 0. Catholic bishop, I shako him by the hand and say: ' Let us take the platform together, to show that we, a? Christian!;, are not fichting oho another; let it be said that we arc friends in the common cause of the advancement of Christianity.' "