Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1875. A SCHOOL RATE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 95, 20 February 1875, Page 5

Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1875. A SCHOOL RATE.

Fkom the report of the last meeting of the Board of Education of Otago we learn that the Board, acting on the suggestion oi the Kaihiku School Committee, unanimously recommended the Government tc pass an ordinance enabling School Committees to levy a small assessment on all rateable property. I v support of its suggestion, the Kaihiku Committee stated that at present it was debarred from raising funds for incidental expenses, except by voluntary subscriptions. At present the Government builds all the schools and out-offices, gives a large allowance for repairs, and pays the teachers a considerable part of their salaries, the balance beiug made up from fees But S?\-£ * appears isnot enough: the Kaihiku Committee, and the Board of Education think the public should relieve

parents of their duty to contribute sufficient means for the education of their children, and that all should be taxed for the purpose of giving a free, or, at all events, a very cheap education to the children of a part of the community. The gentlemen who compose these two august bodies, the Kaihiku School Committee and the Board of Education, have the modesty to recommend the enacting of a law, to compel all, without exception, who possess rateable property, to maintain a system of education, which a respectable minority regards as criminal and calculated to unchristianise, and consequently demoralise the community. Under this Droposed Ordinance, should it be enacted, all will be obliged to provide for children what it is the specific duty of parents to provide, and the minority will be compelled to pay double taxes. There is no justice, no equity in this. "We Catholics, for example, are supporting Catholic Schools at our own sole expense ; and without the least aid from the Government Education Grant, to which, nevertheless, ail have an equal right ; but should the proposed Ordinance become law, the injustice perpetrated on us will be aggravated. At present, the sum appropriated for the maintenance of schools is, for the most part, derived from public land sales, and although an injustice is done by refusing us aid for our schools from this source, still the injustice is not so glaring, so odious and monstrous, as will be the injustice of a direct tax, which we must pay to maintain schools which, our children do not and cannot safely frequent, and from the expenditure of which we derive no benefit whatever. But it may be asked will the 'Provincial Government Act on the recommendation of the Board of Education ? Any one who knows how this Board is constituted will simply laugh at such a question. Why the Board of Education is the Government itself, with the addition of the Speaker of the Provincial Council. The Board of Education, then, which is the Executive, has unanimously recommended itself to pass the proposed Ordinance. So far, therefore, as the Government is concerned, the matter is an accomplished fact. And it is not at all improbable that a majorityof the Council may be found to accept the recommendation of the Board. Were there any use in presenting petitions against the proposed Ordinance, we should recommend the preparation ana presentation of such petitions,; but experience teaches us the utter futility of our petitioning the Provincial Council of Otago for justice, in reference to Education. But there is one thing Catholics can do, and ought to do. They ought to see that the name of every Catholic qualified to vote, should be accurately placed on the lists of registered votes of the several electoral districts ; and then on fitting opportunities they should record their votes against the men who refused them justice in reference to their schools, no matter who may be their opponents. Catholics should belong to no political party, but should punish all, indifferently, who refuse them justice . And it will be well to bear in mind that they have no greater enemies, so far as education is concerned, than the present Executive of Otago.

country, and then take practical steps for putting such plans into execution. Next, we have a party, in the van of which stand the patriotic Irishwoman, Caroline, Marchioness of Queensbury, and the member tor Westmeath, Mr. P. J. feMVTH, who hold that the mild terms of the Home Kulers should not be entertained, denouncing the system as a " destructive and suicidal doctrine." In their mind the basis of the real and only hope for the prosperity of Ireland is the united rallying round a just cause, and that cause is the fulfilment of the pledges wrung by Treaty from the British Government by the determined stand of the Volunteers of 1782. In an eloquent and inspiriting appeal to the people of Ireland, calling upon them to claim and accept nothing short of the fulfillment of the violated compact, which is only to be effected by the unity of the patriots of '82, the Marchioness says :—": — " When Irishmen are thus united, then send your representatives to the British House of Commons, not to take part in Imperial legislation, not to suggest amendments to seme blundering Bill, not to exchange compliments with the Prime Minister, but to declare that millions of the liish demand the restoration of their property, and the fulfillment cf the treaty. Millions of voices must back up the representatives, who will simply give utterance to the voice of the people." In opposition to this extreme measure comes the proposition of the able and earnest Mr. Mitchell-Henry, a gentleman whose honesty and fearlessness should not only shield him from the charge of cowardice, but also whose opinions and utterances are entitled io more than ordinary respect. That gentleman advocates no material change from the tactics hifherto em ployed by the Home Eulers in the House, but to wait until the inevitable division comes in the English parties, and they are forced to ask the neutral Irish phalanx for support, when the Nationalists will have the ball at their feet, and can make their o rrn terms. He asserts that the disorganisation amongst Whigs and Radicals has assumed larger proportions at the present time than heretofore, and that when the struggle for power and place does come, as come it must, the discovery will be made that the Irish demand for self-govern-ment is only just and reasonable, and that the decentralisation which has been so long agitated, so far from dissolving-, will, on the contrary, consolidate the forces of the Empire. It will be found then, that the grievances and demand? of Ireland, hitherto viewed through the thin end of the telescope, wear a very different aspect when the instrument is reversed, and the weight of a solid phalanx of four score votes will prove most convincing logic in the turning the scales of argument. Whatever course may be pursued, we trust "unity" will be the watchword, and whether it be federal union or total separation -which is sought, unless the Spartan band, who at present are in so great a minority, sink all differences of opinion, and unite for the one grand cause, they cannot possibly hope for success. Small as they are as a party, by holding steadfastly together, they wield a power which will ultimately make itself felt.