Barry Dock News

RETURN HOME OF MISS E. P. HUGHES, M.A., BARRY. RECEPTION BY THE BARRY EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY. INTERESTING GATHERING AT HANNAH- STREET SCHOOL. MISS HUGHES ON HER RECENT TRAVELS. In honour of the recent return of Miss E. Price Hughes, M.A., of Barry, formerly Principal of Cambridge Training College, from her extended visit to Japan and other countries in the far East, a reception was held on Friday evening last at Hannah-street School, Cadoxton, the central hall of which was very tastefully decorated for the occasion. There was a large attendance of teachers, and many ladies and gentlemen of the town. The chair was occupied by Mr A. G. Legard, M.A., H.M. Chief Inspector of Schools for Wales, and amongst those present were Mr J. Lowdon, J.P., Dr W. Lloyd Edwards and Miss Edwards, Alderman J. C. Meggitt and Mrs Meggitt, Councillor J. A. Hughes, Rev J. Byrne, Miss M. E. Meredith, Rev D. H. Williams, M.A., Councillor Dr P. J. O'Donnell, Mr Edgar Jones, M.A., and Mrs Jones, Mr J. E. Rees, Miss Fleming, Miss G. Masterman, Mr E. T. Williams, Mr J. Lloyd Jones, Miss Fraser, Mr R. E. Hughes, B.Sc., H.M.I. (Swansea), Mr Bell. M.A. (head-master of Ponty- pool County School), Miss Raw (Normal Depart- ment, Cardiff University College), Miss Pointon and Miss Hagarty (Aberdare Hall, Cardiff), &c. During the interesting proceedings, Miss Mary Evans, R.C.M., who, like Miss Hughes, is a native of Carmarthen, sang several songs in excellent style. Miss Evans is a favourite pupil of Signor Randegger; she possesses a mezzo-soprano voice of very sympathetic timbre, and sang with remark- able effect" The Rose and "The River and the Sea," Y Fam a'i Baban," and 0 dry those tears," being warmly applauded after each song. The Chairman, in opening, the proceedings, expressed the pleasure he felt in offering on behalf of the Barry Educational Society, their warmest welcome to Miss Hughes, whose name was a house- hold word in Barry and throughout the Princi- pality. Miss Hughes had travelled much in foreign countries for a long time, but her affection for home and her native land had not changed. Miss Hughes had been away nearly three years, Thi3 Society was started about the time she" left, and now, on her return, she found the Society a very successful institution, popular amongst all grades of teachers. They wanted in Barry to keep abreast of the times, and he hoped Miss Hughes would tell them something as to how to improve their Society. They were not narrow-minded, and would welcome any hints which Miss Hughes had to offer. When the Prince of Wales returned from his Colonial tour, he told the people of this country to wake up." Mr Moseley, addressing a Cardiff audience last week, also said the people of this country must keep abreast of the educational progress of other countries, or they would be left behind. During her travels abroad, Miss Hughes had seen schools and school methods in about thirty different countries of the world, and they would be glad to hear whatever impressions of her experience she had to offer. Mr Legard concluded by cordially welcoming Miss Hughes, both as an educationist and also as an old friend. (Cheers.) Miss G. Masterman, the hon. secretary of the Society, read the address of welcome, which was couched in the following terma :— The Barry and District Educational Society desire to take this opportunity of offering you a hearty welcome on your return home from your extended tour. We esteem it a high privilege to be able to greet one who has worked so enthusiastically and faithfully in the cause of Education, and one whose name is honoured both at home and abroad. We rejoice that, although your sympathies with Education are universal, yet above all you are zealous for the good of your native land, and cherish equally with us all that we hold most dear in our national life. It is graoifying to us at Barry that one, who is such an authority upon Educational matters, has come into our midst, and who, we feel sure, will extend to this Society warm sympathy and support in its educational work. Therefore, in the name of the Barry and District Educational Society, I offer you Croesaw Miss E. P. Hughes, on rising to acknowledge I the address, and the cordiality of the welcome accorded to her, was heartily greeted. Miss Hughes expressed the thanks she felt not only for the warmth of the reception but also for the kind thought which lay behind that meeting. She had been present at many welcome gatherings, meetings at which welcome was extended to her in many places in America, Japan, and other countries, by brown people, yellow people, and white people not of one's own race, but it was all the more gratifying to receive such a reception as she had this evening from her own people, from her friends at Barry, some of whom were Britons, and some like herself Ancient Britons. (Cheers). She was glad of the opportunity of saying a few words on this occasion. Since she left Barry more than two and a half years ago, Miss Hughes said she had been round the world." Fortunately, unlike many travellers, she had time to go from place to place slowly, and in each country she had an opportunity of living with the people and amongst I the people, which had proved to her a great advantage. First of all she wen h to America, and had opportunities of visiting the slums of Chicago as well as the palaces Of millionaires in New York. She had visited the crowded cities of the East, as well as the lonely cattle ranches of the West In continuing her journey, Miss Hughes said she had her first taste of the arduous experiences of camping out. In Japan she gained many hearts by calling that country The England of the East." After spending some time in Japan, Miss Hughes continued her tour, visiting the Malay States, Java, Burmah, Ceylon, and then home. It was a long journey, but on the whole it was a, very pleasant and interesting one. Whilst in Japan, Miss Hughes said, she was invited to take up the professorship of a men's college, which she accepted, and she was struck with the noble and chivalrous manner in which she was alwavs treated by the Japanese students of that college." In the course of a graphic description of her travels abroad, Miss Hughes spoke of the intense appreciation cherished by the Japanese for nature and art. Two striking lessons she had learnt in connection with her tour. We, the inhabitants of the British Isles, could no longer afford to regard ourselves, from an insular point of view, merly as citizens of the western world. We, in this small island, were the heart and centre of an enormous Empire. If the whole of the subjects of King Edward VII. were gathered together in one place, only one face in seven would be white. This fact in itself imposed upon them a tremendous responsibility, which, as sons and daughters of the Mother Country, they should endeavour fully to realise. She had never known before how it was to look at things from an Oriental point of view. Great Britain had a mass of Oriental subjects to- wards whom those at home should learn to realise their grave responsibility. As teachers they could best impart to the children how to become worthy subjects of this great Empire. While she admired the splendid characteristics and superb sense of justice displayed by British subjects abroad, yet 3he was struck with their marvellous ignorance. In Hong Kong (China) and Upper Burmah, for instance, she visited schools, maintained with British money, the native children at which had not the remotest idea that they were subjects of the British King. The Americans were right and we jwere wrong in not cultivating a spirit of patriotism in the schools. Patriotism was system- atically taught in the schools of America, and also in Japan, in fact, in Japan it was the one religion "1)J)le, and their greatest ambition seemed the privilege of dying for their ■>vas not an empty Jingoism, bat if the people, created and and it was time ^^oire, to 'O!l:e of country. Referring to the new Education Act, Miss Hughes said the measure was passed during her stay abroad. If she had been Minister of Education in England she would not have framed such a Bill, and it was a measure that must be altered. (Cheers.) But as teachers they must remember that education was something above and beyond sectarian differences and party politics, and the Act must be carried out in a true educa- tional spirit. There were parties which had been wronged by the Bill but there was one party which above others had been wronged, and that was the party of women. Why should women not be represented by themselves in the operations of the measure ? The reason was obvious; women were, politically speaking, non-existent, and that was the reason why they were being ignored. Co- option was a very sorry thing at best, and while it was necessary that a few experts should be co- opted — men who probably would not be publicly elected, men who would represent no one but themselves-still she felt that women should take a necessary part in the administration of an essentially democratic organisation like the Education Act. There were more girls in school than boys, and more women teachers than men. She hoped, therefore, that this much-needed change in the measure would be made when the other changes were being effected, and that women would be granted, not only the privilege of being co-opted, but the right of being elected to seats on the Education Committees. Concluding an ad- mirable and exceedingly interesting address, Miss Hughes said it was difficult to explain adequately the lessons which she had learnt during her visits to other countries it was also difficult for many of her hearers to appreciate those lessons, difficult to get them across that gulf which necessarily existed, to comprehend the relations between the East and the West, but she hoped that the two lessons which she had pointed out would be realised and acted upon. Miss Hughes expressed the great regret she felt that, owing to ill-health, she was obliged to abandon the work she so muck cherished at Cambridge, but she was greatly com- forted by the fact that she had decided to settle down in Barry, a town which was so intensely democratic, composed so largely of working-men, and a town the people of which were so keen on the subject of education. It was gratifying that the Educational Society had done so much good from an educational point of view, and here again she understood the women preponderated as members. She hoped to spend many years in Barry, and to have an opportunity of using any knowledge and experience she had obtained for the benefit of the town generally. (Cheers). Dr W. Lloyd Edwards said he was glad that Miss Hughes was now a citizen of Barry, and expressed the hope that at the next opportunity she would be elected by the vote of the people to a seat on the Town Education Committee. (Cheers). Describing the work of the Society, Dr Edwards said papers had been read during the session by some of the best authorities on educational matters in South Wales. The motto of the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth was "Nid byd, byd heb wybodaeth (not a world, a world without knowledge), and he thought that this motto appropriately applied to Barry, where there existed such an intense love for education. (Cheers). Mr R. E. Hughes. B.Sc., Swansea, on behalf of the western side of Glamorgan, welcomed Miss Hughes back to her native country after her long travels. By her return Wales had gained a great intellectual strength, and her counsel would be sought on educational matters throughout the Principality. Welsh-people had a great part to play in the British Empire, and the educational strides which Wales was making by means of her colleges and schools, with all their faults, were daily qualifying her young people mora and more in this direction. Referring to Miss Hughes' remarks with reference to the teaching of patriotism in the schools, Mr Hughes said that there was probably a greater necessity for this in America than in this country, but he did not think that even in America they were doing more in the direction of manufacturing patriots than in Great Britain. Englishmen had a natural aversion to being manufactured by the State, and would be equally unwilling to having patriotism taught in the shcools. More in his opinion had been done in this direction by means of an intuitive feeling, and whatever was done to promote and encourage patriotism amongst the young should be done very carefully. (Cheers.) This concluded t:ie formal portion of the pro- ceedings, and some time having been spent in an informal manner, during which Miss Hughes renewed the acquaintance of her many friends present, the conpany partook of refreshments at the kind invitation of the Educational Society. The gathering altogether was most pleasant and interesting, and was a pronounced success.

BARRY RAILWAY ENGINEER. MR W. W. WADDELL APPOINTED TO THE VACANT POST. We are pleased to learn that Mr W. W. Waddell, C.E., for a number of years assistant engineer to the Barry and Vale of Glamorgan Railway Com- panies, has been appointed to the more responsible post of resident engineer, rendered vacant by the recent death of Mr J. Bell. The appointment is a highly popular one, Mr Waddell being held in much respect throughout the Barry district.

CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editor desires to state that he does not necessarily endorse the opinion expressed by correspondents.1 "Give me above all other liberties, the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely, according to conscience." -John Milton. STREET NOISES AT BARRY DOCKS. To the Editor of the "BARRY DOCK NEWS." SIR,—Is it not in the power of the local authorities to place some restrictions on the street noises in the town ? There are a large number of men who have to work by night, and, with the streets in the possession of the various hawkers, who yell and bawl as loud and long as they like, it is impossible to obtain any rest during the day.-I am, &c., A NIGHT WORKER.

A NEW ERA IN POST CARD COLLECTING. The cult of Postcard collecting has now reached a stage sufficiently advanced to warrant the intro- duction into this popular branch of art of the system now in vogue for many years past, in the issuing of a limited number of proofs of engravings, photogravures, and other high-class art publications. A large number of such proofs originally published at prices ranging from R,3 3s to o£10 10s per copy have advanced in price to twenty, fifty, and a hundred guineas and more, and even at such enormously increased prices collectors are loth to part with their treasures. The intro- duction of this system of issuing in future a separate small proof edition of the more important of the new postcard publications of Messrs Raphael Tuck and Company, London, as they appear from time to time, will no doubt be hailed as a boon by all collectors, who will thus be in a position to incorporate in their collections authentic first copies of the postcards the firm named as they are struck off the plates. Only 1,000 copies of such proofs of each selected design will be issued, and as these will become distributed among the numberless thousands of postcard collectors all the world over, it follows that once each limited edition of proofs is placed, the price must necessarily advance rapidly. Twelve sets of proof postcards are in course of preparation, every set being issued in a snull artistic portfolio. Any ,t or sets can be ordered, for delivery when Mshed, from any bookseller, stationer, or art hroughout the world.

BARRY DISTRICT COUNCIL. MEETINGS OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Attendance Committee of the Education Committee of the Barry Urban District Council was held on Thursday, the 11th instant, at the Council Chamber, Barry Docks, when the members present were the Rev Ben Evans (in the chair), Mr J. A. Hughes, Mr D. Lloyd, and Miss M. E. Meredith. EVADING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. The Attendance Officer (Mr A. Seig) reported that the number of absentee visits paid by the officers last month was 3,050, notices served 213, prosecutions 24, 13 being fined, 6 attendance orders made, 1 dismissed, and 4 committed to the truant school. The parents of nearly 100 children received notice to attend this meeting, most being cases of systematic irregularity that required firm treatment. In the cases of Emily Hearne (Davies- street), Bertie Shiers and Kate Shiers (Glamorgan- street), the parents were apparently determined if possible to evade their obligations towards the children the first-named had been prosecuted six times, and the two Shiers three times each, and in the two latter cases the children had been sent to Porthkerry School with a view of their being placed beyond the reach of the. Barry authority, but in the opinion of the attendance officer the boy worked at Rhoose Limekilns, where his father was employed as lime burner. Mr Seig further pointed out that he had reason to believe that boys of school age were occasionally sent to the Island with donkeys, and girls of school age had also been found there selling goods.-It was resolved that the names of these children be taken, with the view of having them dealt with also that the matter be brought under the notice of the Health Committee, who had charge of the Island. The summary of school attendance for May showed a per centage of 88'2, compared with 89'6 in the previous month, and 89 6 for the corres- ponding month last year. The falling-off was attributed to sickness, the attendance at Holton- road Infants' School during the last two weeks in the month being only 63 per cent. A number of parents attended before the Com- mittee with respect to the non-attendance of their children, and they were urged to send their children more regularly to school than hitherto. The Committee decided to take legal proceedings against the father of Bertie and Kate Shiers, 11, Glamorgan-street, for habitual non-attendance.

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. A special meeting of the Teachers' Sub-Com- mittee was subsequently held, at the same place, present-Mr J. A. Hughes (chairman), Miss M. E. Meredith, and the Rev Ben Evans. Miss Meredith suggested that in all cases possible preference might be given to those teachers who had served their apprenticeship under the Barry Board. -The Chairman said this should only beasecondary consideration the first consideration should be the best qualification.—Rev B. Evans We can find employment for all suitable applicants who have been trained at Barry; we can take them on, and place them in convenient positions as vacancies occur.—The Chairman We have asked the head teachers to recommend to us the best applicants for the vacancies to-day, and we cannot ignore their selections. The following appointments were then made, subject to approval by the Education Committee: -Miss Eleanor M. Griffiths, assistant teacher under Art. 50 at Romilly-road Infants' School, at a salary of A50 per annum Miss Elsie Lena James. Port Talbot, and Miss L. J. T. Johns, trained certificated assistants at Cadoxton Infants': Miss Rachel Harding and Miss C. T. Gabe, trained certificated assistants at Romilly-road Girls, Mr R. T. Williams, trained certificated assistant at Holton- road Junior Boys; Miss Christian K. Hill, trained certificated assistant at Holton-road Girls Mr H. D. Thomas, trained certificated assistant at Hannah- street Boys and Miss Gertrude A. Wilde and Miss Amy Bevan, trained certificated assistants at Hannah-street Girls.

MANAGERS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHER. APPLICATION FOR EQUALITY OF SALARY SCALE. The managers of St. Helen's Roman Catholic School held a special meeting on Monday evening last at the Council Chamber, Gas and Water Offices, Barry Docks, when there was a full attend- ance of members, namely, Rev J. Byrne (chairman), Councillors J. A. Hughes and J. H. Jose, Messrs O. McCann, J. Hayes, and C. Moretti, with Mr R. Treharne Rees (the clerk's deputy). THE VACANCY ON THE SCHOOL STAFF. The Chairman explained the circumstances under which the meeting had been called, and said 1 the only item on the agenda was the appointment s of a teacher for St. Helen's School in place of the assistant who had lately resigned. He had been asked by the inspectors whether the appointment had been filled, and having informed them in the negative, the inspectors had told him that the vacancy should be filled up as soon as possible. t They had one application for the post, that of Miss Annie Agnes Cowley, who was i about to sit for her final examination before leaving college. Father Byrne explained the method of i appointment of teachers adopted by the Education 1 Committee, by whom the selection was referred to t a sub-committee and the head teachers, and said it was customary to make the appointment at £ 70, and if the teachers passed first or second at the I certificate examination, to grant them an increase 1 of JB5, but if third class then they were put down £ to JB60. This was what was proposed to be done in the present case. I Mr J. A. Hughes said that at a meeting of the I Town Education Committee on Friday, a suggestion was made that the authority given to the managers to fill the vacancy at St. Helen's School be rescinded, and that the appointment be filled by the Education Committee themselves. When -the authority was given, four voted in favour and three against, two of the members remaining neutral. Mr Meggitt now contended that some of the members voted under a misapprehension In these circumstances he considered that it would be wise that the managers do not proceed to make the appoint- ment this evening, but that it be referred back to the Education Committee, so that the entire 1 question of the appointment and payment of teachers of St. Helen's School might be settled once and for all. He, therefore, moved That this board of managers do not proceed to appoint the teacher, although the necessary sanction has been given to them by the Barry Education Com- mittee, for the following reason :-That this board does not desire to take advantage of a vote 1 given at the last meeting of the Education Com- mittee, but that, relying on the fairness of their < fellow-townsmen, they refer the whole matter to ] the Education Committee, and beg to recommend that Miss A. Cowley ,be appointed at a salary of jETO per annum, the salary to-be raised or lowered so as to meet the scale. of the Education Committee as soon as the result of the examination is known." i Mr Hughes agreed that the managers were within < their legal right in making the appointment at this E meeting, for the Clerk to the Committee (Mr T. B. < Tordoff) had given it as his opinion, and he agreed with that opinion., that the sanction of the Educa- tion Committee could be given either before or i after the appointment was made. In the present instance the sanction was given before, and was quite valid. He hoped, however, that the managers would not take advantage of this one vote, I but let the matter go back to the Com- mittee to have the general principle definitely j decided. He did not think it would be any I advantage to St. Helen's School to have one teacher appointed at the advanced salary, unless the salary of the other teachers was put up in equal proportion. At the next meeting of the i Education Committee he intended moving that the teachers of this school be recognised on the same basis, so far as salary was concerned, as those of the other provided school in the town. Unless this concession was granted, it would be of no advantage passing the proposed resolution that evening. There was a good deal of feeling amongst the Committee and in the town on this question, and in the interests of the school, and the education of the children, it was essential that this matter should be definitely settled as soon as possible. He had every confidence that, if referred back, it would be fairly dealt with by the Committee. Mr Jose enquired whether there were any more applications for the vacant post ? The Chairman replied that there was another application, but there was a mistake in her qualifications. Mr Jose seconded Mr Hughes' proposition, and agreed it would be wise to refer the matter back to the Committee in order to have the question finally settled. If there had been a mistake in the voting of the Committee, it would be better, he thought, if the managers did not take advantage of it, but endeavour to work as amicably and as harmoniously as possible with the Education Com- mittee. Mr McCann said St. Helen's School was in need of this teacher, and he did not think any good result would accrue from further delay in making the appointment. The managers bad had authority from the Committee to make the appointment, although he was of opinion that they had power to make the appointment without such authority. He believed the Education Committee had made up their minds not to treat the children of St. Helen's School as part of the town, nor their parents as ratepayers, nor to deal with the school according to the provisions of the Act. They were thankful to Mr Hughes and Mr Jose for the part they had taken in the matter, but he would move as an amendment that the managers proceed to fill the vacancy, and that Miss Cowley be appointed. Mr Hayes seconded. For the amendment, Messrs McCann, Hayes, and Morretti voted against, Messrs Hughes and Jose, The Chairman, who did not vote, declared the amendment carried. LEVELLING UP THE SALARIES. Mr Hughes then moved" That applioation be made to the Education Committee to place St. Helen's Roman Catholic School on the same basis, as far as the salaries of the teachers are concerned, as the provided schools in this district, the teachers in St. Helen's School to start at the minimum." I It was time, Mr Hughes said, that this matter was Wwij* iw uwiwCl. A met;uiii-g o £ uliw Committee would be held on Friday, when he hoped it would be finally disposed of. Whilst he wished to see the Act carried out. he wished also to be loyal to the majority of the Committee, but he thought it would be t.o the detriment of education in the town if this agitation was allowed to continue much longer. According to a return which had been prepared by the Clerk, he found that if the salaries of the teachers of St. Helen's School were increased as proposed it would mean an additional J6120 per year, or a gross increase of from de549 to £669. If the application of the governors was favourably received by the Education Committee on Friday, as he hoped it would be, it would mean the settlement of the matter once and for all. The Chairman said Mr Jose had already taken this matter in hand at the Education Committee, and suggested that it might be well to leave it to that gentleman to see it carried through. Mr Jose considered the notice of motion ought to have been given before the question was con- sidered by the managers. However it would be discussed by the Education Committee on Friday, when the confirmation of the appointment came before them. The Chairman The appointment has now been definitely settled, for the authority of the Committee was given beforehand. Mr McCann remarked that tremendous pressure had been brought to bear upon certain members of the Education Committee not to vote for any increase of salary to the teachers of St. Helen's School, and he was convinced that some of the members would not vote for it. There was no seconder to Mr Hughes' motion forthcoming, and a general conversation followed The Chairman asked could not a petition from the teachers for an increase of salary be laid before the Committee at their next meeting ? Mr Jose said the whole matter would come before the Committee on Friday, but he did not think that the application should come from the managers. Mr Hughes was of opinion that it was the duty of the managers to make the application, for unless they asked they could scarcely expect to receive. He was convinced that the school could not con- tinue to be conducted efficiently without additional aid. It was, he thought, very necessary that they should make application to the Committee, for he understood that a motion would be submitted at that meeting to the effect that no portion of the rates should be applied towards St. Helen's School. The Chairman Mr Jose has already promised to mpport the principle of placing the Roman Catholic School on the same level as the other schools. Mr Hughes I have been appointed one of the governors of this school, and I feel strongly as to the principle that it should be recognised on the same basis as the other provided schools, but unless we make application to the Committee how can ive hope to obtain the concession ? After some further discussion, Mr Jose seconded Mr Hughes' motion. The Chairman said he did not think that the teachers would be prepared to accept the minimum. Mr Hughes They must certainly begin at the Minimum. The Chairman In the case of Mr Wood, that ft-ill mean a loss of L40 a year to him, as he has )een at the school four years, and would be en- titled to £10 a year increase. Mr Hughes You must remember that if the application is granted it will mean an increase of :rom JB100 to jE140 a year to Mr Wood, and this vould be the first time for this school to be re- garded as a town school. Mr Hughes' motion was then agreed to unani- nously, and the Committee discussed certain natters in private.

THE NEW EDUCATION ACT. A PLEA FOR FAIR-PLAY. To the Editor 01 the "BARRY DOCK NEWS." SIB,-It seems that an attempt at persecution by some of the members of the Protestant Party is being made at Barry and this is all the more to be regretted as it is done under the cloak of religion and liberty. An attempt I must say, but my sense of the fair-play of the people of this town makes me feel sure that this policy will not long survive. Britons are by nature opposed to the policy of persecution for religious belief, and Protestants and Roman Catholics have in this country, in theory at least, long disclaimed such a policy. For thirty-two years we Catholics have been 3-otnpelled to pxy rates to teach a form of religion n the Board Schools which did not satisfy us, as ive believe in a dogmatic Faith and at the same time we had to put our hands into our pockets to support our own Schools, where our children are taught the faith of their fathers. We did not enjoy paying rates towards the Undenominational Schools. We thought the law which imposed them a one-sided law yet, as loyal 3itiz.ens, we paid our r ..tea. and obeyed in letter and in spirit the law i?" the land which imposed them. And now, when the sense of justice of the British people has at length given us a little fair- play in the matter of religious education, and has allowed u; a share in the rates, we find some of the Protestant Nonconformists violating the law of the land in acting contrary to the letter and the 3pirit of the Act of Parliament in trying to crush 3ur Catholic Schools, and to take away from us thai measure of religious liberty and fair-play which the law of the land has given us. And what are their reasons for doing this ? They ire briefly as follows 11 The Government had no authority from the country to introduce the Education Bill." Our friends have short memories. [n our own Division it was made a prominent subject at the last election, as most of us remem- ber, unless it is convenient for us not to remem- ber, as it seems to be for some. And if any body of men choose to defy an Act of Parliament merely because they thought the Government had no direct mandate to pass it, it is evident to all that Parliamentary government would thus become impossible. But the point on which our opponents have laid most stress is that the Act enjoins the principle that those who pay the money should have the control." Before the passing of the Act our schools were subject to no popular control," although partly supported by public money, New one-third of our managing body is nominated by a District Council and our managing body will not be able to spend any public money without the consent of the Educational Authority, a popularly-elected body. Thus, by the Act itself, the public control over our schools is considerably increased. Another point with our opponents is that they cannot pay for "doctrines which they believe to be false to be taught in our Catholic Schools." To this I must answer that they do not contribute a penny-piece towards teaching our Catholic children the faith of their fathers. What is the total expense of our Catholic teaching ? How much less would the expense be if the hour for religious instruction was omitted from cur time-table ? In the great majority of oases the expense is nil. But there is another side to this besides what Catholics will have to pay in rates, thev also buy their own land, build their own schools, and they contribute the use of their school-buildings and play-grounds to the State free of charge ° This as every one can see, far out-weighs the cost of the religious instruction. It is sad indeed to see those who are always talking of being persecuted themselves, attempting a persecuting policy towards the only Catholic School in the district. It is quite right, in their view of '• Freedom," that the religion of the undenominational schools should be charged on the rates, but quite iniquitous that the Catholic Schools should have the same fairplay. Many Nonconformists say it is quite right to teach just the quantity of the religion they approve in public schools, and wrong to teach any other quantity or quality". How any fair-thinking man can conceive such "a false idea of Christian fairplay, I win Jeave the people of Barry to judge. ONE OF THE MANAGERS OF ST, 1 SCIiGO-u.