QUESTION OF RELIGION.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1177, 20 July 1901, Page 2

QUESTION OF RELIGION.

Appointment* to the Public Service.

Thbbb was a great wagging of tongues in Auckland the other day anent a letter in the Herald from somebody who calls himself ' Watohman,' on the matter of pablio appointments held by Roman Oatholios. A disoußsion on such eubjeots is more enjoyable to some people than attending a mother-in-law's funeral. It is exhilarating to them to have their religioua prejudices stirred up, and doesn't coßt anything, and there is no way to set these prejudioes simmering to equal an adroit suggestion that_tbe Roman Catholio Churoh has nobbled the Government, and is influencing the education system for nefarious purposes, and te seizing all the public billets fur its own people. Here is ' Watchman's ' story in his own words : — ' Mr Seddon denies that he has favoured Roman Catholics by giving them publio appointments, and says Bishop Julius accuses him wrongfully. The only thing I can say to that is that we in Auckland have every reason to know that there is too much troth in the Bishop's statements, as nearly all the men appointed by Mr Beddon here are Roman Catholics— Mr Tole (Crown Proseoutor), Dr Darby (gaol Burgeon), Mr Cullen (inspector of police), Mr Bevern (governor of the gaol). The appointments of Roman Catholics in other departments are so numerous that it would fill several of your columns. I must conclude by saying that I see by a Christohnroh paper that very few but Catholics can get employment on the railways, which are in charge of Sir J. Ward, himself a Roman Catholic* Certainly, when we add to these the Labour Inspector, Returning Officer, SubInspector of Police, and the positions in the Advances to Settlers offioe and others, the list is a considerable one. But is there any reason to suppose that it iB more than a coincidence ? And, in any case, what has a man's religion to do with his qualification for or right to office ? If Mr Tole is the best man for the position of Crown Prosecutor, why should the fact of his being a Roman Catholio be any bar to his appointment ? So also in the other cases. All the men mentioned are excellent publio officers. Possibly, in Wellington, there iB a preponderance of Wealeyans. Again, it may be that in Otago there is an excess of Presbyterians. If* so, would any exception be taken to it in the publio press ? Surely not. On the contrary, if Roman Catholio office-holders are in excess in other places besides Auckland, is it fair to blame Sir Joseph Ward just because he happens to be a Roman Catholio ? Why, he has been out of the Ministry for years until recently, and the head of the Government is Mr Seddon, who is not a Roman Catholio. True, the majority of Ministers are Roman Catholics, but it is too absurd for anyone to suppose that a man's religion is the sole reason for his appointment to a high and responsible offioe. We know that Irishmen are proverbially partial to a ' olane and aisy' job in the police force. Probably, in the same way, Roman Oatholios are fond of publio billets, and,, if so, this might account in some measure for the exoess of Roman Catholics in the service. Or, again, they may be more capable and better fitted for publio administrative positions than Protestants. If bo, they certainly ought to hold them. Somebody has written saying that ' Watchman's ' letter teaches us a serious lesson. Well, as far as we can see, the only lesson it teaohes is that if you want to get a oomfortable position in the publio service it will not oome amiss to go into training for it as a Roman Catholic