THE HAWKE'S BAY EDUCATION ACT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 9, 28 June 1873, Page 11

THE HAWKE'S BAY EDUCATION ACT.

Hawxb's Bay Pbovincial Council. Tuesday, 11th June. Mb Osmond, in moving the second reading of the Education Bu% said that the proposed measure was absolutely necessary to meet the requirements of the Province ; that the revenue raised by the household rate was insufficient, and had always to be supplemented by a vote ; the total rates levied amounted only to about £900, and £2,300 had been expended. This must end soon. As for the religious clause, the same object was effected by the clause as that in the present Act. It was copied from the Nelson and Auckland Acts. Denominational schools received no aid, either under the present law, or the proposed law for buildings. If denominational schools were excluded from all benefit in Hawke's Bay, some of the very best of our schools would be shut out. He had never he*rd any complaints of proselytism, and the proof that there was nothing of the kind was this : that a great number of Protestants sent their children to the Catholic schools out of preference. He trusted that whatever else was done with the Bill, the Council would retain the denominational clauses.

Mr Lee said that holding, as he did, that it was the duty and privilege of parents, a&d those who stood in their place, to educate their children, he believed the state had no right to interfere in the matter, except where those duties had been neglected, and then only to such an extent as to remedy the evil. He was, therefore, pleased with the general principle of the Bill, as it did not change the existing law supporting denominational schools. He pointed to the fact that with 600 male Catholics (including children) in the province they accomplished results in the way of education, which no other body had attempted, even though they had three and four times their number. Were they tt be left out m the cold ?

Captaiu Russoll thought the Bill faulty, as it placed too much power in the hands of the Superintendent ; 'the Council waß not justified in creating an autocrat. They should not put the onerous duty of the management of education into the hands of one whose time was already fully taken up, who, in the event of falling ill, would have to depute some one to perfoi m it. He thought a Board would be far safer, and he saw no objection to Catholics being on that Board. The Catholic schools were of the highest credit to the province, and from the energy and zeal of the Catholics in the cause of" education, he believed there would be more chance of success for our schools if members of that faith would sit on our school Board.