PETITIONS AGAINST REFERENDUM.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15016, 10 July 1914, Page 8

PETITIONS AGAINST REFERENDUM.

(Sr_CIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, July 9. A number of petitions, protesting against tho proposed referendum on the question of religious instruction in schools, were presented to the Houso of Representatives to-day. There wero further instalments of the petition from the Catholic clergy and Catholic federated societies. These wero presented by the Hon. A. L. Herdman (1168 signatures), Mr T. M. W T ilford (408 signatures), and Mr F. H. Smith (28& signatures). Two others were instalments of the petition circulated by the National Schools Defence. League. They were presented by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher \1836 signatures) and Mr W. A. Veitch (1434 signatures). In every instance tho petitions came from tho electorates represented by the member presenting them.

(FRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) GORE, July 9. At a meetings of the Schools League Operating in tho Mataura electorate aud parts of tho Wakatipu and Clutha electorates, and representing the combined Presbyterian, Anglican, and Methodist Churches, the Salvation Army, and many members of other religious denominations, a motion was passed expressing appreciation of tho action of the Government in introducing the Referendum Bill. \ TO THE EDrrOR OF "THE TRESS." of the speakers at the Catholic social is reported to havo said "we have suffered forty years, etc. - ' Now, f Sir, a statement like this should cause tho non-Catholics to pause, and think, and try and discover>the cause of this suffering. "Free" is bno of the labels our State schools bear, and that being so, makes the causo more difficult to discover. If it can bo shown -that the effects are due to tho self-imposed l action of tho sufferers, why complain of the suffering?— Yours, etc., PUZZLED.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE FRESS." Sir, —I notice that in a report in your j,issue of the 6th inst. of a sermon by Canon Garland, I am credited by that reverend eentleman with having stated *?. ™ c . Legislative Council that, "these Bible-m-Schools people were headed by fanatics and some of them hired from abroad." I am not very sure as to whether those are the. exact words 1 used, but that matters little, as they convey all I had, and have, in my mind, and it would appear as if, go far as Canon Garland is concerned, I was correcti for who other than a fanatic, whose mind has become dimmed to all that is fair in pursuit of the object of his fanaticism, would so load and add to the words an opponent has used as. the reverend gentleman has loaded the words used by mc? Canon Garland is reported to have said: "Mothers—travailing again for their children's sake—who were heading this movement were fanatics according to-Mr Barr." Only one who was wilfully perverting the truth or who had allowed his fanatic zeal to carry him beyond the bounds of' decent argument would make such a statement. A few mothers—"travailing again for their children's sake"—toave doubtless been carried away by the arguments and fanatical zeal of Canon Garland and his brothers-in-arms, but that they are the real leaders in the movement, no intelligent person will believe. And yet why should I blame the Canon for showing himself a real son of Adam by attempting, to shelter himself behind the woman? Nor is he content with one reference to the mothers; a second time he thunders from the pulpit: "Let him as a Labour politician come out from the close preserves of a nominated seat in Parliament for election with the political cry 'Bible-in-Schools people are headed by fanatics, many of them being mothers of children in New Zealand? "

Might I suggest a battle-cry fitter for men appealing to the reason and intelligence of their fellow-men and women ? How will "No State interference with Religion," appeal to my reverend friend? He cannot truthfully deny the fact that the State is being asked to i interfere in, religion. Or might" I suggest another, "Our State Education is a profession free to all, no matter their sect or creed." The Canon knows and I know from letters beside mc that "Bible-in-Schools" means tho resignation of many of our ablest teachers, and shutting the door to many more. It is true I have tho honour to be a member of tho nominated branch of our Legislature '.still, I am a believer in the elective principle and have always been an admirer of that grand body of Presbyterian ministers who. to get rid of State interference and State patronage went out with wife and children from Manse and Glebe sacrificing all so that their flock might have tho right of a free people to the election of their own minister. I am not concerned as to what would be the result of an election if the issne was one of religious convictions, nor am I to be side-tracked by the reverend gentleman. My principal business in tho meantime is to assist in revising the-"Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill" should I ever have the chance.—-Yours, etc., JOHN BARR.