An Auckland Discussion

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 11, Issue 10, 11 March 1909, Page 382

An Auckland Discussion

The Auckland Herald of March 4 publishes a personal correspondence between Bishop Neligan (Anglican) ani Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout on the education question. It is all ' along of ' the Bishop's recent references, in England, to the ' paganism ' which (as. his Lordship declared) is the outcome of the exclusion of religion from the public schools of this Dominion." There is nothing in the correspondence that calls for any particular notice here, as it is largely taken up, not with a discussion of the merits or demerits of secular versus religious education, but with a question of courtesy or discourtesy as between one public man and another. Incidentally, however, the Chief Justice rang in-the old ' gag ' about the alleged higher criminality of Catholics, despite their system of religious education. It was iinworthy of the Chief Justice, and to the last degree unbecoming the office that he bears, io descend into the arena of party strife, to engage. as a partisan in. controversial discussions on disputed social questions, and so

far to forget the impartiality that should adorn his position as to make false and unjustifiable attacks upon any " section of the community. When Sir Robert, Stout donned the mantle .of Chief Justice he ought to have doffed that of the political partisan and done what lay in his power to maintain alike .the ""dignity and the impartiality that _ are properly due to his high and responsible position. But of late he has been airing his old traditions — perhaps m order to prevent them getting musty. In an early part of the series of articles contributed by us to the Otago Daily Times on the education question, we switched the electric light on to the swarming .non-facts and fallacies of, that unworthy old wheeze about Catholic schools and crime statistics. It has been a misleading Will-o '-the-wisp for many a year. And it is about time for intelligent people, at least, to sever themselves from its guidance.