MR LEARY SHUFFLES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 7, 14 June 1873, Page 6

MR LEARY SHUFFLES.

Mr Leary, a candidate for Caversham, has been reported as saying — " In regard to the Educational question, he did not wish a better system than the present one. There was one matter with which some of them might not quite agree with shim. In populous places like Dunedin, for example, where more school accommodation was required, if it could be shown one section of the community had conscientious objections to either tho books or the system, he would provide schools and teachers in accordance with their views' — (Applause)." This report, which we republished in our issue of last week, went uncontradicted ; but now Mr Leary finds, on mature .consideration, that he has been " misconstrued."

A correspondent, who signs himself "Honest Speech," sends us a circular issued by Mr Leary, and which he describes as an address by Mr Leary "on after thoughts." Our correspondent writes : " Permit me to say that it is due to yourself and tho Catholic electors that you should notice ihis recantation of Mr Leary."

'Vhe following is portion of Mr Leary's circular. The jtalics ore our correspondent's :—": — " Education.— lt it upon (his si/lject more particularly that my ideas have been Wisconsin, eel. A report has got abroad that I favour the denominational system, a system to which I beg most distinctly to state lam thoroughly opposed. Under the denominational system, the rt ligwus .doctrines of the majority are tavght in the sclwols, ihe eject oj which is that in a country district where one school c?>ly is repiired, the children of various denominations repreteutivg the minority, must go -without instruction unless their pn rents are content they should receive it strongly flavoured with doctiines to which they are opposed. " Jn stating my views upon this question, I was under the irrprpssion that the course of instruction pursued in our comn n\ Schools, seriously reflected upon, if it did- not ridicule ite religion of the Roman Catholics; and I stated that if it

ctJuld be shown to me that such was the case, that iihe school accommodation in the City of Dunedin was insUfiicient, and that the religious denomination t referred to had the required number of children to constitute a main school, under such, •circumstances, I should meet the difficulty by granting them the necessary school accommodation, and tike customary assistance to the teachers, on condition that the school -should be under the supervision of the Government Inspector, and that the requirements of the Ordinance were complied with. Such a case, however, is hot likely: to arise, as I find that the course of instruction which obtains at present in our conmon schools ts such that no good grounds can be urged why all denominations should not avail themselves oj ihe present system ; and I shall therefore strongly oppose any alteration in it." Our correspondent proceeds — " Evidently Mr Leary, to catch a few Catholic votes, expressed an opinion which th* fear of losing perhaps a few Presbyterian votes has induced him to recant. This expression of his after-thoughts speaks for itself. Doubtless you will appreciate the motive which could urge a candidate to change his views so speedily.'*