WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 2, 10 May 1873, Page 8

WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

Shrewd, observers had long suspected that the aided school clause, which it had been so fashionable of late to introduce into all Education Bills, provincial and colonial was in reality a sham, and only intended to throw dust in the eyes of the simple. This suspicion has lately received a very stnkxng illustration iv Wellington. The Catholics of that

city have no less than four schools, two for girls and two for boys. These schools have been provided and maintained by the Catholic body, without aid from the Government. About 300 children reoeive in them a good literary and Christian education, Here was a case for the application for the aided school clause, for surely the spirited people who had provided these schools, and generously supported them, should not in justice be called on to pay school rates unless their own schools received a pro rata share in their distribution. Under the conviction that his claim for aid was irresistible, the Very Rev. Father Petit-Jean made application to the Board on behalf of St. Mary's boys school, which is under his charge. The Board had not even the courtesy to send him a reply. After waiting a considerable time, he renewed his application in person, and met with a point-blank refusal. The excuse was, there were no funds ; but he was told that if the Catholics would hand over their schools to the Board, they would be maintained. The question, however, is prompt : How could the Board support these when handed over if there were no funds 1 It would appear, then, that the clause in question is a mockery and a delusion. Clearly it was never meant to be acted on, else the Board would not thus dare to disregard the letter and the spirit of the law. Again, is it not clear that the only object is not the education of the people, but the destruction of Catholic schools ? Ought not the Board rejoice at seeing 300 children receiving a good education, and help these good, disinterested people who {were devoting their substance and their time and eneigies to this good work 1 No, nothing of the sort ; but destroy the Catholic character of the schools, and then we shall maintain them, says the Board. This precious Board has not money to help, but it has abundance to bear the entire expense. How logical and statesmanlike ! The help of the Catholic body will not be accepted, even though the burdens of the state should bo thereby lessened; and the Board (prefer to bear the entire expense of educating 300 children to contributing a portion. And so it is everywhere almost ; here in Otago, Canterbury, and Auckland. Are the people asleep, or are they demented thus to permit their representatives to accumulate tax upon tax, and burden upon burden, for no reason, except the discreditable one arising frojn sheer hatred of Catholic schools 1