BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 163, 10 July 1914, Page 6

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

I I {AN LNIQtnTOUS REFERENDUM, j ißy JOHN r.VUfHILKY. M.A.I j Tin- lion. .1. Allen. Minister of Eduenli..n. uill introduce at once ;! IU-lipinus j liistnu-lirn in Schools i;.-feiendum Bill, j This pre»se> on members of Parliament ! j tin- most urgent con-ddenition, not niiTPly <>t ihp proposal In introduce re- ! !'.i<riou= m.nni.-iuui. half of it scatariun. I jimo tin' State «'»'>(>!-.. but the more I im-nK-diiit-e question nf whrt'.ipra rpferen- | iliim should be granted a: aii on a. rPiiintional Oiffcrrnii-s of belief. Surely it i- sidf-evid'Pnl that if the J l>ro[Hi-«sl H\Tilt-in of relurioH* instruction would re.-iilt in relijrious injustice. Par ) liiimont. >hotiUl not put it in the power ivcmi of a majority t<> uo> a. referendum 11> inilHt that hij"u*ti<-*-. It- i« asißUiiK-.i hero, merely iV-r the snlcp of arsirnvnt. ] I that a nmjurily d«wirp.- thp Ijoajruc'fnrm of religious inpt.riiction. Tuke j <•;,— where the injustice would In- iimlpiiiaJilc A Jp-ajnie of people who«« ■ Mirname* be-rin with the letters A. B. C. to ;;. (ipiiiiinil nf Parliament that th"y ha\c free piusse* nil t'.iP StatP railways". Thp S u> '/■ \vnph- protpst , against this undeniably inijnst propo-*!.! Tho A to 11 licapie. u> wtt'.p It) the di<- I pule. p<-t itinu Parliament for a rrfcrco- ; dwin on the .subject. A vole I between tlie A h> II people and l.lie S to ; ■/.. A wotiik-rfiilly fair proposal! Would | this decide i.ho* justice of ihe ■iaimv ; Iho majority would win. of cmmw. but j what of justice? If Parliament refused 1 a referendum on this unjust, proposal. I i-ou'.i; not the A Lo R> cry: "Re demo- : cratii-! Tnist the piople! l>l Ihe jx-opli- | dei-idel The nulwiiys to Ihu |>cuf(h'. and they have a ri.eht. ti> say what .-.hall be don., with Lin- railways." Tll t-uppori their c-.>..<e. they instance j o-thrr <-ountric-< whiTi- ihi.s has l>.-i-n I done. Would thai, prove ii to i* , j» a1 _- They fnrt her show that .-ill the A to K\s in olher countries, who have t'mi- secured free passe?, derlurp there is absohllf.lv "no frir-tion" anions those who have «.,-iirpd what they asked for. The rlainotir of Uie S to Z-. who j have to pay for their own tickets, and; also. l>v for the A to U's fn-e posses. i~ not. of fOTJITP. iffra.rdr<l afriction. Nuu. tin just Parliament would eren dream of such a rcferendtmi which would give' one scclioTl of thfi | people the power to inflict. on Ihe c-t-her. This surely et-I,aWishes the ! princi[ile that if a proposed scheme nf j religions instruction would result in inju.--r>-e. I'arliameiit shouJ«l absolutely n.i'use t<l t, r ive any combination o-f d"I'uminatioiis the power lo <-:i-J-?e inju?- ] iii'e to any ot;he.r deurw)iini«n. Surely , .Mir Christian Churches. mbo\e all. ou<r!it | 11> ajrrefi that if the proposed form ol religious instruction would result- in re-lic-ions injustice. Parliament should not providf a referendum for the infliction of the i.njimli<'e. ■But who ii-- 10 dentin whether fix- propo.=»il form of rdiijioiis ire«iT»icti<n» is uiijus: ' Surely Parlianivir: mils; do ii.i hi -fore i: providve tire maolihii»ry for in-(l;i-;iug the in justice. '►n>-f (lie refen-n----(him were prraittud ".'he would ■hf t.i prevent even !.hp llajmnt irejiit-'.ice. lit Quernslani Vile .I'.irl.air.vnt- |/;t. I-'hp question of jtii-'LM'p so by dffaull- aihl han<ie>l over ;-hi?-.vhr>!e qin*.:ion d> Uie He,-lon*. When lan aflir:r..it:V.- vrrte ~1 iTli ;ver >r:it nf t-hn elm-iors declared ior liie c-licmi , I'arliajner.l- f-miri Imiiiiiil h.ind ami foot -io.Mi ;o I'lip minine.-; detail >J the J-mailUs oi t.he No .nriTiuljn.-n:, !•.. safp'/uard , >f libeny or jii.--: :>■■'. dare tap P-trlianient of Qiwvnsland , iiwert in the KinpAwering Hill. 1/ikc ShHoi*. the lx»affiie <-ri-ed. "It. is not in liie .Bond." ami Parliament was- overridden by about a-quartpr <>f the olecton*. .Vi: if M net as 'Ap guai-dian of li-b«rty and jm-ii<c and equality. \l maifit first of nil d«.-:de w liJ-ther the propo#e.l .•■lwme is jut-" nr no;. Hirt. ihe Bible in Spools ar 1 Ri#hr. of Kntry Sectarian fi!i-".TUrtioii 1.-pragtrp. wan-te I'irliaw.rr.x. 1 o wml "..he ppopcs-.il to the elect on' merely iie<-ati«- tiny prodiicc MD.oOO p-.nilicn .--irdn. 'l'iic strertjrt-'i nf the pclition. not the judgment nrf I'-iriia-m'-n: on the iiiSli.e of the id to move Parlianwivt fj a rrfprendum. Now, tho-r- rari- piiTpnrt 10 f .h.ow : ■' 1 ;it thofv who Mcr..'it ihrm favi.ur thp proposed .supprse '-'.if r.'lirmi- w rv'.illy unjust. f'loirld t'.ie di-v-ision , aj. to it.- i'-i> or I lieitf.lt riv ;''ie in jr.?.: '<-<>. or r.ioul.i an inirKir;ia.l tribunal .lirs.;. tet-'t. :>tfi jlisti.-e? If f'.iere is any quc-iion of iim inju&tiee, -I'.iould i.'lo-e B-ho demand it rvr> J'ae jury :■-> r;?cidc whPfher their claim ie just 1 This is what, .iir- > lam for a rriVreTwlum. on the ftniiJiM of t'.ie petition cirde. really am0ur. ,, ..: to. \* a ju.iu-ia.l body, not a coir.hir-M-i0:1 of intereiste<l d'pnomillal iotir. l:k<- I-ip ißible in S-liiroln Uti<.nic. Parliumenr. would <•>.".- ;dr-r the rijfll'.ft of miiiT-ri! v. The Lrti^riu , snrriorU re would consider oinly t'.ieir own (lf.iira.rHM. I*:irlKUUen.twoii.ld ronsider thi> jitfti.-e of the prorwieal. Th-e iiidivi.lual elwtor. belongintr Lo certain denomimafn'r.l3, would lie 'niidfd I)'.' 'hi* own r«li?;ouK beliefs, .livlice safe in a denominaliana! con-: <«. The itiiie. then, sreiiie <-ie-jr. 3\ar!;arrxnt ha.i only one chance of doing its diKv 'Ti i'.i:>? irfittf-r. Ac a judfitial, iinl>iasf>a ta-bbunal. above pn-jii-diet.* and se-K-inte-rft'., gua-rdiane of tw jus-tire due to nil, it iin»t now or nevor iletermirp? whether ;'ie proprted «heme is jtis; or urius-t. a-v.i. if it- is unjust. refusPß ti> provide a mraiiie for -perpetrating- t-ljr- iti.juKtiee. Trruri .Pnrl:<imen-t mutit [iividi" rroiv or wwr. 1L is tliv only .body cnmpetPiit to <l<vid;- t.'ie fjiieetion . 1 ju. ;ic<-. Aβ to nhfriii-r i'ie -—n-i-mv is ju»t. l'ti« mattex jiia-y Iμ- put β-inrplv. If I'hp Slate provide-, at the co?t cj all. the form of religious instrurtron avci-P-'.-ablft tm <-crta.iii Tr.~nom , bna , "i.io-nw. it mtu-t. as. t Ire jutalice. provide at . a form of rtJijrirairt i-riistructioii to asry <in>caiiinat'-oiv to wjios-e religions t>el-iri \he form-er eWueosn ii? repugnant, ll is futile ;o point u> the right ~f f-n: ry provisions as A remedy for injustice. K ; rs:. irecauc-e -it is provided at 1 a<> r>f -ea< - h dsTjoinination, not at Utr .-<>-: of ihw ,StaU-: wuxvnd. braaiseo it Iβ more objfti-i i-oi:a.l>le to many drmcmnu:> - <i«r.K "t.ha-11 ie fchf tita-tj-giveil form -of iiuvrruction. K-\T-n WOIHP - hoiTcliPS in the ljpagvp would jjladly pet ml of F-i-e right <rf eniry; and those opposed :.o lHi , I>»i4.nie's KiherriP an l nK*t Kironply 07. posed- txi i.he o-f entry which line I^Ajni' , trffpjf* them as a fiolatiiiTn for tihr>ir imdertie-bl' , erxclursioir from t.ne -5-riptnTe le&aocs. Tiiird. the {.Tir" , l'-fi=-onj ; ? fonu the only p-ii-rt- providM by tne S'ja-te: an-d tarrp is r.o Star.ejjivon ajtmr.at-.ve -o an— dflilKira'iiration heiir-Ls are opp-op-rd to t.hat kind rd Se-rintrnre •en.-e.h^rij. i'-AT\ anyope der.v t.h.T To r.p ins* tip State miti pmvidp for a'l would TuraTi S'-fr aid to pome r!en-nmin.v :;o3=; the k.i-.trr vroiild maintain nir

prpernt sTeteru. vrliU'ii. however, would i r'T- prevent pwniififinn to the churdiev . to wnrk l-h-p eyvtom. for that , M.<fm is not worked' by th» State, (tur , pi-eßPjii f-vstem puts every il»-i>:.niinauon I r>7l t'T2 seme footing. I I