MEETING AT KIRWEE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15017, 11 July 1914, Page 16

MEETING AT KIRWEE.

A meeting of Riccarton electors was held iv the Kirweo Town Hall on Thursday evening under tho auspices of the Bible-hi-State-Schools League. The speakers wero Mr J. C. -\dams (chairman of Canterbury College Board of Governors), and Mr S. G. Camerou (organiser). The Rev. Mr Harde (vicar of the Anglican Church) presided, and there was ;i fair attendance of the public. At tho conclusion of a most enthusiastic meeting, Mr J. _\*. Lawiy moved .-—"That this public meeting, held in the Kirwee Town Hull in tho electorate of Riccarton, pledges itself to heartily support the platform of tho Bible-in-*Stato-SchooLs League, and requests that a referendum be taken thereon, also, that appreciation be expressed at the action of the Government in introducing the Referendum Bill asked for by the liible-iii-State-Si-hook League;'that tbe niembor for the district bo respectfully but strongly urged to support by "his vote tho wishes of so many ol 7 his constituents, who desire that tho whole people, whether opponents or supporters of tho Bible-in->Statc-Schools League's proposals, shall have tho opportunity of giving a direct roto thereon at tho bal-lot-box at tho next general election; and this meeting expresses the opinion that b_* taking this course encroachment of this subject upon the political arena will bo avoided." Mr R. Shaw seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously amidst applause. After the meeting a branch of the League was formed, a good, number of'those present enrolling as members. 10 THE EniTOR Or "THE rRESS." Sir, —In your issue of to-day's dato is a telegram ''Special to 'The Press' " from. \Vo!lic-_--_., headed "Bihle-iu-Sclioot-—Exposure by Canon Garland,"' in which it is staled that "tho Anglican -Synod greatly enjoyed tho exposure by Canon Garland of Leaflet No. 7 of tho Schools Defence League. . . ."■ J The method of exposure is charac- j teristic. Tho leaflet contains six pages of printed matter quoting opinions from a large number of persons to show that tho method of imparting religious instruction in New South Wales does not work so harmoniously as tho Bihle-in-Schools-Leaguo would have us believe, and half a page of the leaflet is devoted to a circular which is stated to have been issued to teachers by Mr W. Wilkins*, secretary to the Council of Education, on 15th July, "1900. In reply to a cablegram to the Director of .Education, Sydney, Canon Garland is- informed that Mr Wilkins retired in 3884 and died in 1892 and "could not, thorefore. have issued the circular referred to by you, which cannot be identified." Presumably after i this oxposure tho Anglican Synod imagined that no such circular was issued.. Yet in the official record of tho Debates of tho Legislative Council, Queensland, Vol. 10(5, pago 1985, tho circular is quoted in full by tho Hon. A. A. Davey. It begins:— "Tho following is a copy of tho circular issued to all State schools in New South Wales for guidance in the matter .of giving religious instruction in such schools'- ; then follows the circu-. lar itself in inverted commas, down to and including the signature " . . . W. Wilkins,". and the communication is dated, "Council of Education Office, 15th July, lfiOO." On iho dato quoted in the defence League's Leaflet No. 7, therefore, the circular was reissued from tho Education Office over Mr Wilkin-?s name, .as it had been for many years though tho original author of tho circular had long been dead. Where is the exposure of tho Defence League's Leaflet No. 7? There is an exposure, certainly, but it is an exposure of Canon Garland's method of conducting the campaign. Wby r does he not "expose", tho other five and a half pages of Leaflet No. 7?— Yours, etc.. CHAS. CHILTON. July 10th, 1914.