BIBLE READING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 11

BIBLE READING.

THIS SESSION'S BILL NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS. COMING DEVELOPMENTS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The date for the second reading of the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, in charge of tlie member for Christchurch North, is August 1. The measure got to the committee stage last session, and was dropped as a result of an amendment inserted by the supporters of the Nelson system, as an alternative to that proposed in the bill.

I Circumstanced are shaping themselves for a repetition of the previous committee developments, as Mr. R. P. Hudson, chairman of the Committee which took evidence on the bill, has given notice that when it reaches the committee stage he will move to insert an amendment, "That the provisions of the Act shall not apply to any. school unless the controlling authority of that school has, by resolution, determined that it is not practicable or convenient to adopt the system commonly known as the Nelson system, and that, unless such a resolution is in force, the controlling authority shall arrange for the conduct of religious exercises in the school in accordance with the Nelson system."

The member for Nelsou (Mr. H. Atmore) tabled a question to the Minister of Education to-day, suggesting that he should include in an amendment of the Education Act, which is expected this session, a clause on the lines of the recommendations of the special commitItee which considered the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill last year.

This provides that if accredited persons approved by the Minister desire to give moral and religious instruction of a voluntary nature in the school buildings, the ordinary opening hour of the school shall be postponed, or the ordinary closing hour in the afternoon shall be advanced, on one day in the week, as agreed upon, for not less than half-an-hour, to enable this instruction to be conveniently given. This is subject to the qualification that the arrangement must not reduce the minimum time devoted to secular instruction being reduced below four hours per day. •