CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 1 July 1914, Page 3

CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

w DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF EDUCATION. A Question of Scholarships. (Bv our. Parliamentary Special). Wellington, Monday night, A deputation representing the Catholic bodies in New Zealand, waited upon the Hon James Allen this morning to bring under Us notice several matters which were connected with their educational work The deputation was headed by Archbishop O’Shea and introduced by Mr Hindmatsh, M P (Wellington South) The Archbishop said ho was speaking not only as a Bishop but as head of a Oatholio body representing 80,000 people. The principle grievance was m connection with the scholarships granted to the Oatholio. schools. He pointed out that a certain amount of disoritionary power was in the hands o! the Education J Boards and While some Boards granted W. the scholarships to the Catholic secondary schools, other Boards had refused on the atounds that the private schools were denominational, at the same time scholarships were allowed Bt Ohnsta College, Christchurch and the Collegiate School, Wanganui, which were Anglican sectarian schools. They wished the Minister to make the grant of the scholar, ships imperative where the private school was equivalent in etandard to the state school. In view of the great sacrifices made by the Catholics, he . thought the matter should engage the Minister’s favourable consideration. , • Mr Martin Kennedy followed the Archbishop and pointed out the sacrifices which the Oatholio community made for its education system. They wjmtad their education to start and finish in Catholic atmosphere. Unless these scholarships were granted it meant that the fees had to come out of the pockets of the poorer working men. , ~ Mr Girling Butcher, organiser for the Catholic Federation asked for the free supply of the school journal to Catholic. schools] ~,, . „ Mr O’Leary pointed out that since the military cadet drill bad been superseded by physical culture their schools bad been handicapped as it was not possible for the Brothers and Sisters to get tne training, owing to their ✓ religious orders. Special facilities for training were asked for. The Minister’s Reply. In the courae of his reply Mr Allen said he recognised the sacrifices made by the Catholics for their faith’ He did not know of any Board taking up the denominational attitude, but if this was so it would give force to their arguments. Tneir requests would be considered in the Bill proposed this session. He would go iutp the question of the charges made ipr the school journal. With regard to the question ol physical training a conversational discussion cleared the air. The Mimstei explained that there was no necessity for brothers to attend camps and lie himself, had seen the sisters training at Masteiton, , . . The Archbishop thanked the Minister for his reception of the deputation.