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SIXTY-FIFTH YEAR.
C.T.P. Resume Campaign OU read our "Claim
f or Justice" about a year ago. Later you heard our case over air — discussed the seriously and sincerely. We kept to the point—no attacks on any other denomination, no abuse of opponents, no reflections on the secular school system, except that it did not go far enough. Si) far our arguments rema4 unanswered. Of course, we met with opposition. Casting off dignity, charity and commonsense, little factions in each State rushed in alarm to the nearest public platform to denounce Rome. How much solid support they found among Australians generally was seen in the last elections of a c ertain Stale where the attempt to disrupt a political party by bigotry failed so completely. The fact is that our fellow Australians are not •happy about taking our money in taxation and refusing us the use of it for our o wn children. They don't like e ducating their children partly at our expense. They would gladly give us justice if they could see a ,simple means of doing so. Unfortunately. "some still do not understand our case. They ask: 1. "Would not a grant to Religious Schools upset our State School System?" No. The State schools would s till be used by those who prefer them. The Catholic schools
JUNE 12
FAIR PLAY DEMANDED would carry on as before. There would be far more disruption if children attending registered primary schools were sent to State schools. It was admitted in the Victorian Parliament ( 1937) that this step would cost Victorian taxpayers £4.83,950 extra a year. 2. "Will not Protestants thus be forced to subsidise the Catholic Religion?" No. We vill pay for the religious teaching ourselves. The State will see that the money would be spent only on secular subjects. and spent efficiently. 3. "Why should Catholics be specially favoured?" W e are ready to extend the principle to every other bony w illing to run its own scnoot system, but experience indicates t hat few are willing to take the trouble. Why then should we be penalised because others are not prepared to build and equip primary schools? 4. "Why start a sectarian brawl?" Are Australians forbidden to ask for justice because some people find justice unpalatable? We are not in Russia or Germany. If a minority is to be ignored because it is a minority, Heaven help our democracy.
We do not enjoy the job of running Catholic schools. We should not spend millions unless we were obliged in conscience to do our best for our children. Protestant leaders admit the State system is incomplete, but they feel they must put up with it in the absence of a better sys tem. We have established a better system after great sacrifice and ask only for the use of our own money to run it. We will even accept an amount per child equal to that which it would cost the State if our children were drafted • into State schools. You see that there is no question of a mere "subsidy" or of preferential treatment to a Catholic minority. R emember — Australia and New Zealand are the only important parts of the Empire that do not give some measure of justice to religious schools. Remember. in Catholic Eire and Catholic Quebec Protestant leaders have frequently acknowledged the fair treatment they receive for their schools. W e all pay taxes—direct or indirect. Part of taxation is spent on education. We want only our share and the principle ought t o he admitted even though there may be some minor difficulties in applying it. Catholics! Put these facts to
y our friends, your neighbours. your , associates. They will give
a fair hearing. is irresistible.
Your claim
A611111417/
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Pages 11,32