THE CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 20, 11 September 1885, Page 23

THE CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

Thb following is taken from the Evening Star's report of a debate eventn - a "V" V Duaedin Parliamentary Union on Saturday

Mr F. W. Petre said that befora any amendment of the Act was Tn ?u h qUe \° n °J a r d tO Bch0 ° l 8 other than Government schools should be considered. It was a well-known fact, and one which was clearly demonstrated in 1883, before the Commission which sat in Wei! hngton, that there were a large number of children being educated in this Colony at the expense of a particular body of people it was well known that the Catholics of this Colony were at the pro. sent moment educating something like 7,500 children in schools which would compare favourably with the Goverqment schools, and they had tbis advantage-that in them conscientious training was STnfi'nnT a ,! te £ Uor \ to ; /he cost of these schools up to 1883 was £156,000. which included not only the cost of buildings, but the cost of purchase of sites; and the approximate cost of conducting the schools was at the rate of £2,120 a-year, or £3 15s a-head Thia was cheaper thin the rue at which children were educated "in the Government schools. The Catholics had challenged the Government romtime to tim- to prove that the education given was quite up to the mark and there had been a few inspections with very lavourable results The statement that ,he denomiuatioual system of education was inferior to the Government was without the sl.ghtest foundation The reports of the Education Departments in England and Canada and India proved the reverse. The education given in the denomina* tional schools of riot only Catholics, but Protestants, was in every way satisfactory, and did not suffer by comparison with that g.ven in Board schools. Out of the Colony's population of 500,000, 70 000 were Catholics, and m spite of the many drawbacks which they aboured under they had establishad excellent schools. In juS their views ought to be considered, and it was a disgrace to the Colony that session after session of Parliament, when their petitions were sent to the House they were thrown into the wastepape? basket -(A voice : "No.") Ihe O >ma iision which had sat to take evidence was. composed of rabid opponents of any recognition of Caihohe claims, and when a lot of unques loaable ev.deace had been taken it was proposed not to print it. He would move as an amendment That provision be made for aiding other schools than Government schools under Government inspection." , t r - L - Stanford seconded the amendment He considered that the Education D.pa.tment was tbe most difficult one that [he Government hat to manage, and that private schools were Ux more Ukdy to achieve the best retults. Mr. White ehould have proved that the question ot education was entirely a political one He believed that ,f a poll of the population of the Colony could be taken it would be lound that there was a distinct majority aiainst the preset 8} Btem.-C No.") He advocated the '• pa/mem by results system which would relieve the Colony of a great portion of is present burden, and tap those gracious springs of private g kxlwill and liberality which were always chocked and dried "n" soon as the btate stepped iv with its withering touch.