SIR,—May I express appreciation of the stand you have made
against the claims of the Roman Catholics to preferential treatment in the nation's. schools. It has certainly never been demonstrated that children from schools where scripture-teaching is confined to the agreed syllabus have lower standards of conduct than children from denominational schools. What benefits to the community do these denominational schools bring? The evils arising from the segregation of one section of the nation's children far outweigh any benefits which may be claimed, but have not proved, to result from the teaching of religious dogma in our elementary schools. The most pressing of all reforms, that of reducing the size of the classes, is pushed into the background while the battle rages.
There are also other questions which need the careful consideration of every voter, questions of domestic and foreign policy which may affect the future of the world. But in this constituency, where the Roma Catholic vote represents about one fifth of the whole electorate, we have the unedifying spectacle of three candidates trimming their sails and setting a course calculated solely on how to gain that vote, which will be cast for the candidate who promises the cash benefit. Anyone opposing the Roman Catholic policy is readily accused of being anti- religious, which may explain why we wait in vain for a clearly uttered defiance, for which courage is needed.—Yours faithfully,
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