Private Schools Bill.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 540, 4 December 1890, Page 3

Private Schools Bill.

[TO THE EDITOR.’ Sir, —In view of the attempt that Mr Arthur's supporters are making to work up religious bigotry. I would ask you to publish the following :—We are told that though Boman Catholics are bound to contribute towards the maintenance of Sta f e schools, the Government cannot educate Catholic children without crippling the State systpm. I understand that the Private Schools Bill provides that those who have built their own schools out of their own funds shall receive a capitation allowance of £2 per scholar. We are asked to believe that the granting of this sum would cripple the system. Now, in the Wellington district I understand that the Roman Catholics have spent some £90,000 in school properties, and at present educate at their own coat about 1,500 children. Let us presume that the Roman Catholic hndy did, what no one denies them the right to do—namely, close their own establishments and send these 1,500 children to the State schools. If less than two thirds of the ordinary capitation would seriously hamper the State system, then the strain nf entirely educating these children, and providing them with school accommodation could not be borne. Logically stated the arguments would read The Roman Catholics contribute their share of the public school revenue, but we cannot afford to educate their children. They are nnw spending enormous sums on their own schools, but for the success of the State system, which is the best in the world, it is absolutely necessary that the Catholics bhall continue to spend their own money in educating their own children, and that they shall also go on contributing to the cost of the State schools. If they do not do so our system will ba crippled The fact that a schnnb house won’d have to b« hailt, and that the only subsidy would be £2 per capita on the average attendance, would be a sufficient guarantee against any abuse of the privilege,— I am, Ao,, Fair Play.