THE PENINSULA SEAT.

West Coast Times, Issue 4213, 15 January 1883, Page 2

THE PENINSULA SEAT.

BI3HUP MORIN'S ADDRESS.

Dunedin, Jonuary 14,

In his address, Bishop Moran said his reason for comi.ig forward and asking the uid of the Peniusula electors, wa9 that he might be enabled to demand justice for 70,000 fellow colonist?. He admitted that this was a free and gloriou.3 country, and that in the main its laws were equal and good, but he maintained, with respect to ttie question 6f education, the law in many of its provisions was neither good, wise* nor just. The case stood thus. There had been spent by the Government of the country, on education, somewhere about two millions of public money, contributed by all citizeus of the eouutry equally ; each man contributing according to his ability, was entitled to his fair share in the expenditure of that money for the purpose fur which it had been voted. 70,000 of their fellow citizens had no share whatever. It was no answer to his position to say it was their own fault, and that if they wished, Roman Catholics could participate in the expenditure equally wi'h others. To that argument he said that the law was in substarce, so far as Roman Catholics were concerned, a penal law, and if his fellow citizens understood the question properly, they would not endure the existence of a penal law in this country for an hour. From time to time Roman Catholics had made and signed petitions to make their views known to members of Parliament. He had asked representatives to present petitions and' had been retuseu, aud when they did send petitions to Parliament, they were kicked about the floor of the House. Roman Catholics had been met with unjust treatment and with obstacles of every sort, in bringing forward their complaints upon the education question, and this reason alone would be amply sufficient for his candidature, as it waa absolutely necessary that extraordinary efforts would be made to induce all fellow citizens to look at the question. As regarded Roman Catholics, he contended that the law of education ia New Zealand assailed their pockets and conssiences, and tnat the effect it produced on Roman Catholics was precisely the same as would be produced if Parliament enacted a law, excluding them irom school rooms. For what was the difference botween a law, as far as its effects were concerned, which directly excluded them irom the school room, and a law which in its administration enacted such conditions, that it was impossible for them, as honest and sincere Roman Catholics, to comply with the*e conditions ? Tne action on the part of the Legislature in making such a law in spite of protests and petitions, was a persecuting Act, which Roman Catholics as me a were bound to rise up and protest against. It was not in vain to seek for redress. He had no objection to the maintenance of the present system, so long as justice was done to the Roman Catholic body.

In answer to questions, his Lordship said his candidature was hona fide, and he intended going to the poll ; he was an independent candidate, and on a noconfidence motion would not vote, no matter who was on the Ministerial benches, unless Government was guilty of some gross dereliction of duty.