DUNEDIN ELECTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 268, 21 June 1878, Page 14

DUNEDIN ELECTION.

Since otir leader was printed, Mr. Reeves, another candidate for the representation of this city, has held a meeting of his friends and explained his political principles. Between him and his opponent, Mr. Oliver, there is no substantial' difference. Politically, intellectually, and moi'ally, they are about equal ; so that it is a matter of perfect indifference which is returned to Parliament. And to us Catholics they are both equally hostile, botli are equally advocates of godless education, and both equally prepared to continue a system which wrongs, insults, and plunders us. To both therefore we are bound to be equally and determinedly opposed. Mr. Oliver is, indeed, prepared to make a concession to the Rev. Drs. Stuakt and Copland, and to allow them and •thers the use of the Government schoolrooms for the purposes of religious instruction, provided they pay for the privilege, or in other words hire the rooms at a fixed annual rent. Tliis is very liberal is it not, and very considerate, to . people who have already paid the cost of the erection of these rooms ? Truly Mr. Oliver is a strange sort of statesman ; still his statesmanship has, it appears, admirers in Dunedin. His idea of a Government plainly is that Government is something distinct and alien from the people who maintain it, has separate interests, and antagonistic aims. Mr. Reeves is so pi'ofound a politician that we are hardly able to follow him in his profundity. According to him the Government cannot possibly support any- system but a secular one. Is it not strange that what is not only possible but actually a fact in England should be an absolute impossibility in New Zealand. In England the denominational system is not only supported but fostered by Government ; the secular system is only brought into play to supply some deficiency not met by denominational schools in a few localities. And what is more, the very men who advocated, in exceptional cases, secular schools, are loudest in favour of Government aid to denominational, and most zealous in advocating religious education. Such, for example, is Mr. Foster, who was the Minister of Education under the late Government, as may be seen from his recent speech at a meeting of Wesleyans. But so it is, what real statesmen in England not only

consider possible and wisest, but reduce to practice, is regarded as impossible by our fledgling politicians in this country. Both Mr. Reeves and Mr. Oliver are the enemies of Catholic schools — both supporters of godless education for tlie rising generation. As Catholics and citizens, then, we cannot consistently/ with our duty to our God and our country, give the least support or countenance to either of them. On the contrary, as Christians and citizens, we are strictly bound to oppose both. In this election, therefore, Catholics will take no part. The godless may fight the battle in their own camp.