BIBLE LESSONS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17808, 6 July 1923, Page 7

BIBLE LESSONS.

MR MASSEY SYMPATHETIC. {*aao3 association TztaaaAia.) WELLINGTON, July 5. Mr Massey received a deputation today from the various Protestant denominations asking for legislation enabling Bible lessons to be given in State schools. The Prime Minister said his sympathies were with the proposal, but he wanted to make it perfectly clear that he was dead against anything in the way of sectarianism being introduced into the public schools of this country. (Hear, hear.) Personally, he did not think the scheme would mean that. If he thought so, he would not touch it at all. Mr Massey admitted that the Scripture instruction given when he was a boy had been of great value to • him through life, and he could not understand much of the opposition to what was proposed. His information was that there was a strong body of teachers against the proposal, and if that was correct, he did not think they could get very much further. Ho was sorry to learn the Soman Catholic Church was opposed to the scheme, but that was their businesss. Dr. Gibb: We don't know, but we take it for granted. Mr Massey: "I should like to see the whole of the Christian denominations join in what is intended. Unless there is unanimity we cannot get very far." He did not know what was the feeling in the House, but there were a great many urgent matters to attend to ( thia session. He might be taking up a selfish point of view, but he was supposed to go Home to the Imperial Conference, and the legislative programme ahead.was more than they might be able to manage. They could put it that the session would last two months. He could not say more than that. However sympathetic he might be, he did not think there was any chance of passing the legislation asked for by the deputation this session. He wanted to know exactly what was the attitude of the teachers, and he wanted ,to something more about the attitude of the Christian denominations. Looking at the proposal from a strictly educational point of view, the Bible was absolutely the best literature in the world, and every pupil and every school in the country would be the better for Bible reading such as was proposed. Dr. Gibb said Mr Massey had promised last year if he were returned to power he would put the measura through. Mr Parr: That was not the statement. We have looked up the shorthand note. Dr. Gibb: I would like that verified. Wo went away rejoicing that you had definitely pledged yourself to carry this through. Mr Massey: That was a confidential deputation. Dr. Gibb: This is confidential. The Prime Minister: "No, this is going into the papers. I am tired of confidential deputations. We want newspapers here, and very properly so. Then there can be no recriminations." He had very. serious doubts as to whether the legislation asked for could be granted this session. Mr Isitt asked whether Mr Massey would give any facilities for a private Bill to be introduced so as to test the feeling of the House. Mr Massey: I am quite willing. Mr Isitt, remarked Dr. Gibb, should remember that, with the majority Mr Massey- had, it was in his power., to force the measure through the House.