Correspondence.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 43, 12 August 1892, Page 20

Correspondence.

[We are not responsible for the opinions expressed by our Correspondents.] ■ ♦- L "T AX" REPLIES. TO THE EDITOR N.Z. TABLET. A Chbibtchubch " Catholic " requests me to answer a few questions. Allow me to comply with the request. "7s it not possible, 1 " says a Christchurch '* Catholic," that Messrs Ballance. Reeves, and Co found it to their interests, in order to shut tip the Catholic clamour for justice, to place three of tlieir number on the Treasury benches? " Messrs BallaDce, Reeves arid Co have not placed three Catholics on the Treasury benches. With Ballance and Reeves as co-Ministers, we find Hon Sir P. A. Buckley and Hon J. G. Ward — two irreproachable politicians, who, in the past, by speech, and vote, and action, have joined in the " Catholic clamour for justice " ; two memberß who will b 2 found on the very crest of the next wave that will beat against the crumbling walls of secularist opposition to deserving private schools. The Hon J. Ballance, who 6upporta every measure of relief to Catholics, cannot find it much to his in'erest " shut up the clamour for justice" of the Catholic body, which, wever the agitation may eventuate, will look upon him as a friend.

The Hon Reeves, I opine, does not care much wbat Catholics think of him. He does not cater for their vote. It does not Buit him to throw a sop to them and give a slap in the mouth to secularists and Orangemen. He knows that the Catholic bishops cannot be bought over, A even if a few weakened Catholics occasionally bend the knee to Baal in their haukeriog after Government appointments and public honours. A.sk an ordinary well-informed maa why Sir Patrick Buckley was chosen as Colonial Secretary, and he will probably reply: — "Oh Ballance wanted one of the party in the Upper House — Buckley ia an old Parliamentarian nnd a former colieagu?. He is a right good, fellow and a well-liked man. Fitness, and convenience, and personal friendship, 1 should cay, were the reasoas." Yes ; 'tis so, perhaps, bat why was Ward also selected ? " Tou want to find that out ? Come to Wellington and, in the lobbies, inquire who are the most popular men ia the Lower House. You will find Ward among the number. Mr Ward ia remarkable for quiet, gentlemanly ways. He offends no one ; he is liked on both aides of the House. He makes no enemies and daily increases the number of his friends. Such a man, if possessed of ability, is a desirable acquisition to any Government. Has be ability ? Go to Duneditf ; ask Dunedin people, who are losing a great deal of their trade through his business management. Ask the Bluff Harbour Board, who this year with a thriving port, are several thousand pounds to the good, principally through the activity of the present Poatmaster-Ganeral . Mr Ward has great financial ability, and special ability for the administration of his own department. No Member knows the postal ropes and how to effjct'uhy pull them better than he. The Post-master-General has the goodwill and confidence of the depirtmants, the respect of all who come within the circle of his rapidly widening acquaintance, and the esteem of Members of Parliament generally." Reasons why two able, eminently suitable men, are chosen for positions in the Cabinet, ara not far to seek. Buckley and Ward are in the Cabinet because ot their personal character, great experience, and decided ability. "Again" Bays Christchurch "Catholic," "supposing Catholic teaclwis received appointments under the present system, mould you, sir, be satisfied even for a period ? " — Some Catholic teachers do receive appointments under the present system, and we are not satisfied. Some Catholics are made Justices of the Peace and receive other honourable commissions, and we are not satisfied. Some Catholics find their way to the Treasury Benches, and still we are not satisfied. If every Catholic man and woman who can teach, or think they can teach efficiently, received lucrative appointments in the public schools ; if every intelligent Catholic were raised to the Bench ; if every Member of the Cabinet were a Catholic — we would still be unsatisfied : We want religious teaching in our schools, and our money back to help on the work of proper education. We shall be satisfied with nothing le9S. " I contend" says a Christchurch " Catholic," " that the very fact of having Catholics in a Ministry so adverse to aid our schools is the strongest reastn why we should punish it" — Is it now ? H>w do you make toat out? Ia this Ministry, compared with other Miuistries, so exceedingly advers9 io Catholic scnools? The Prem'er is not adverse. The Colonial Secretary is not adverse. Tne PostmasterGeneral is not adverse. Report has it that other Ministers are friendly, though pie iged to their couaiitueats to vote against us. A recent act of the present admin:stration has been to reaognise the certificates of private schoo s in the matter of Government appointments This doeß not show that the Ministry is so very " adverse to aid oar schools," or that the presence of Oitholics in the Ministry is sc prejudicial to our interests that we ought for that very reaßon to punish the Ministry. What can the Ministry do ? Wbat if has done, and little more, till the public mind undergoes a greater change in oar regard. I have no uoubt that some Ciomet will take the matter up eventually, when the sense of the House must b 3 in its favour. " A thirdparty," say my Christchurch friend, "canonly be formed wiien Catholic strength is recognised by either the 'ins' or tlie 'outs,' and tlie means of bringing this about is to keep constantly pegging at the ' ins' until they grant justice." — A third party, I am inclined to think, can only be formed when we shall have in the House a strong man, respected by all, who, while working hard for his owa constituents, will make justice to Catho ics the great work of bis Parliamentary life. A third party can be formed oaly when Catholics will be thoroughly united, wtien petty axe-gnndmg will find go place in their action, and when the strength which comes of thorough union will be everywhere recogoised. " One means of bringing this about" is to remember at the ballot box who voted against us, and who are likely to prove our friends. Tue old cry " Punish the last offender when you get a chance" is one of the best watchwords up to the present. Let us not divide our strength. '• United, we stand," a power even in our numerical insignificance—' 1 Divided, we fall," and cease to be a menace to our foes. The present Ministry in the present Par'hment can do nothing more than they have done in the matter of assisting our schools. Why punish them for omitting to perform what they cannot possib'y accomplish ? " Christchurch Catholics vote against Perceval at next election if he resign tlw Agent- Generalship and return to Neti Zeland in time !" That is practically what my friend wants. A likely thing 1 If the preeeut Government, at next election, take up "justice to private schools "as a party cry, I shall be prepared to vote against even Sir John Hall or any other Opposition friend. If, on the other hand, Ballance refuses, and Rolleeton consems, to makej" aid to private schools" a plank in the party platform, I shall be prepared to help, on ftcobie Mackenzie or No-Popery Allen against all-coraera. If Balance say " nay," if -iolleston say " nay " — well, then, 111 vote for 1 the best ma?i t " — I am, etc., Tax,