THE EDUCATION ACT

New Zealand Tablet, 23 December 1915, Page 25

THE EDUCATION ACT

A CATHOLIC GRIEVANCE.

Reference to the Education Act as it affects private school? was made at the prize-giving ceremony at St. Patrick’s College on Tuesday of last week. The rector of the college (Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy) said that last year the Education- Act was amended in such a way as to allow scholarships to be held ’in Catholic schools. But it was not generally known that at the same time another amendment in the Act took away from pupils of Catholic schools the chance of receiving free University tuition. Thus what was given with one hand was taken away with the other. This matter was brought by the Catholic Federation before the Minister, of Education recently, who submitted it to the Council of Education. By eight votes to six the council carried a resolution to the effect that secondary school certificates should be obtainable at all registered secondary schools, and that the Minister of Education should be advised to have the Act amended. That was satisfactory so far as it went, but Dr. Kennedy could not say whether the Minister would take the step advised. The whole thing was tantalising.

His Grace Archbishop Redwood said that ex-pupils of St. Patrick’s College were acquitting themselves- well in various*parts of the world, and on that account those interested in the school felt only the more keenly the disadvantages that had been placed upon Catholics. Certainly any man who had the cause of education at heart must truly lament the petty spirit which had been shown, but the matter was in good hands in the hands of the Catholic Federation, which would see these matters through successfully.