THE COMING ELECTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 29, 13 November 1896, Page 17

THE COMING ELECTION.

OW will the Catholic vote be cast at the coming election ? The answer to this question is eagerly sought by friends of the candidates already in the field. No matter how bigoted opponents, in the effort to catch secularist support, laugh at and minimise the Catholic vote, it must be reckoned with. Solidarity */ has been and is, happily, characteristic of the Catholics of New Zealand. A few political tricksters and self-seekers may, indeed, be found here and there. 'Tis always so in every great movement. No matter how holy the cause, traitors are seldom wanting. A few are always to be met with who will not hesitate to sacrifice principle to the expediency of the hour. On the whole, the Catholic people of New Zealand are most sound on the education question. One has only to note the progress in school building to clearly see that not one jot or tittle of the old determined spirit has departed. The spread of Catholic education and the increased attention paid to higher studies in our schools show unmistakeably the earnestness of our people in the matter of both religious and secular instruction. No matter what the cost, Catholics will in no respect lag behind. Their schools, built at their own sole expense, increase ; their religious teachers become more numerous ; the education, long since acknowledged to be of high standard, becomes annually more proficient. In 188(5 there were 83 Catholic schools in New Zealand attended by 7,991 pupils. In 1891 there were 110 Catholic schools having 10,144 pupils ; now there are about 140 schools with an attendance of nearly 12,000 children. These schools are maintained by Catholics who have, in addition, to contribute, in the general taxation, to the free and godless education of other people's children. The heroic sacrifices which a faithful people are making for conscience sake may be seen from the number of religious teachers who devote themselves to the work of Christian education. Take for instance the nuns at work in the various centres of population. The latest returns give the number as 481. Nearly all of these are actually engaged in the work of teaching. From the census returns just to hand we find that the total population of the Colony is 703,300. The increase since last census has been 70,702 and the increase percent. 1224. Catholics number 97,525. The increase in the Catholic portion of the population is 11,G09 or 1359 per cent. A glance at the returns of other leading denominations shows that the rate of increase among Catholics is higher than in the case of Episcopalians (1204) or Presbyterians (l:j'OG). The 97,525 Catholics are made up of 50,348 males and 47,177 females. The voting strength of Catholics in the various provinces may be estimated from the following figures. Auckland heads the list with a total Catholic population of 23,523 ; Otago has 10,978 ; Canterbury, 10,138; "Wellington. 15,934; Nelson, (5,323 ; Hawke's Bay, 5,0(54 ; "Westland, 4,462 ; Taranaki, 3,850 ; Marlborough, 2,228. Making due allowance for children, the voting power of Catholics is very great. How will it be used ? That is a question which should be answered at the ballot box. If we are to make our undoubted power felt we must keep our own counsel. ""Watch, wait, strike when the moment for action arrives." That should, be our motto. Catholics, we are quite sure, will be guided by their natural leaders. The hierarchy will, no doubt, after the consecration of Most Rev. Dr. Lenihan, discuss at informal meeting the Education Question, Any resolution of their Lordships, come to in reference to the action of Catholics, will be loyally carried out by their flocks. We trust our natural leaders, who unselfishly guard our best interests and turn a deaf ear to those oily politicians who in spite of empty sympathetic phrases are determined enemies of Catholic schools. If Catholics are to obtain victory all questions except the Education Question should be put behind their backs. The Education Question is of paramount importance. The Belgian Catholics have obtained success after a light extending over twenty years ! New Zealand Catholics have not yet obtained complete victory. Their

agitation and example have, however, had the effect of arousing strong feeling among other colonists concerning the iniquity of the present godless system. Correspondents from many parts ask advice. We cannot do better than quote words, which, before last election, our late chief dictated to us in answer to the question—" What should be the policy of Catholic electors ? " The words of the late Bishop Moran are applicable in 1890 as in 1893. " In my opinion," said his Lordship, " Catholics should act as intelligent and determined men, who, having a cruel grievance, know how wisely to utilise the means within their reach towards the redressing of this grievance. They should quietly confer together, try to understand one another, keep in mind the obligations of justice and loyalty, which are the paramount obligations of this moment ; carefully keep away from the meetings— committee or others— of their enemies, be gu : ded by their natural leaders, who are both wise and wary, and move as one man from the North Cape to Stewart's Island."