KITCHENER SCHOLARSHIPS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11812, 25 September 1916, Page 5

KITCHENER SCHOLARSHIPS.

THE CATiiOUC POINT OF VIEW. The following letter has been sent by tho New Zealand Catholic Federation to tho members of tho National Cabinet. ; - " Gentlemen, The Now Zealand Catholic Federation has learned with pleasure of the generous offer of the"-Hon Colonel Hea.tou Rhodes to con tribute tho sum of £IOOO as tho nucleus oi' a fund to establish what are known an Kitchener Memorial Scholarships" ior the benefit of tho children of New Zealand soldiers who havo fallen, or rimy fall, during tho war. The idea is a splendid one, and we applaud tho tiionghtfulness of a gallant soldier and ari honourable politician. " There is. however, an aspect or the matter to which we, as a federation representing the many thousands of the Oiitholio population, feel compelled to draw attention, more especially as tho Kitchener Memorial Scholarships are an entirely new departure, and do not (and cannot, unless the Government chooses to so make them) constitute a component part of the Stato education system. They will be as distinct from ordinary scholarships as are the Cecil Rhodes Scholarship#. "Our point is this: When the call for men resounded throughout New Zealand Catholics responded liberally, and when men were wanted for cfaring enterprise they took their full share of what was coming and never failed_ to uphold the traditions of the Empire. In the trenchen or the charge there was no question of religion. They fought and won and lo»st and died for a common cause. Many of those who have given their lives for the Empire ideal were Catholics, and many of these have left behind them sons who. it may be reasonable to imagine, will aspire to win a Kitchener Memorial Scholarship. What tho federation would like to know is, whether, in the event of a CathoW b<v iwiing successful, he would bo compelled to take out his scholarship at a State scholastic institution, or whether he would be allowed to go to a Catholic tchool of a standing approved of by the authorities. Ii .not, the position would he as follows:—A Catholic soldier lays down his life for the Empire, perhaps winning golden honours in doing so.- His son wins a scholarship (not a State scholarship) founded by a Dominion Imperialist for the sons of such heroes, and unless specific provision is made, the winner may be told that he can only go fc> a State institution, which would be entirely opposed to the whole of the religious training and principles of his father. can only loyally follow the faith of his father (who died for the Empire) by refusing the scholarship. "We have no desire to raise the sectarian issue in any respect whatever, bub wo do say that the bayonet thrust of a Catholic soldier is as good as the bayonet thrust of any other soldier, and that if he makes the great sacrifice, his belief in regard to the education of his children is entitled not only to respect, but ought in justice to bo carried out. " A copy of this letter has been sent to the Hon Colonel Rhodes."