SUNDAY PLAY IN PARKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1930, Page 8

SUNDAY PLAY IN PARKS.

BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS. RATIONALISTS' VIEWS. That the City Council had been approached about the opening of play apparatus for children in the parks on Sundays was •intimated by • the New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Rationalism at their annual meeting last evening. The executive reported: "This gear at present is locked on Sundays to prevent children from using it. The council refused practice, though it inconsistently opened its Zoo on Sundays for those who are able to pay the admission charge. A petition is being circulated to secure emends and this will,be presented to the council by a deputation from the association." With regard to Bible-reading in schools, the executive said that some complaints, had been made that this reading had been given in school hours. The information was immediately forwarded to the Minister of Education and the Education Board, with the result that the latter body took firm steps, on the advice of its solicitors, and insisted that religious reading should be given outside of school hours and should be quite voluntary. Receipts from collections at lectures in the Majestic Theatre during the past year had amounted to £927. The association has a credit balance of £32. The report was adopted and the untiring efforts of the retiring president, Mr. C. E. Major, during his three years of office were referred to in appreciative terms. He was appointed' first pastpresident of the association; Officers were, elected as follow:— President, Mr. F. A. de la Mare; vicepresidents, Sir Robert Stout, tlie Hon. J. Macgregor, Professor J. C. Sperrin-John-son, Mr. Henry Hayward, Professor T. A. Hunter, Dr. T. C. -Moore, Mr. Patrick O'Dea; secretary, Mr. G. A. Rawson.