RELIGIOUS TEACHING

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 13

RELIGIOUS TEACHING

Baptists Back New System

Strong support for legislation passed by the Government last session allowing teachers to undertake religious instruction in schools on a voluntary basis v as expressed by the Canter-bury-Westland Association of the B.ptist Union of New Zealand on Sa.urday.

The resolution was passed st the seventy-first annual meeting of the association, held in the Greendale church. The association also expressed its opp&sit.on to the policy recently announced by the New Zealand Educational Institute.

While sympathising with many of the issues raised by the institute, the Baptist association felt the advantages of having trained teachers sharing in religious instruction far outweighed the disadvantages. The association voted to •end a message to their fells w Baptists in the United States assuring them of the Concern of their friends in New- Zealand in the present racial troubles

Mr W. C. Ricketts, deacon o' the Riccarion Baptist Church, was inducted as president of the association. ' The Rev. L Rawlings, minister of the Baptist Church at St. Albans, was e.ected president-elect. Other appointments were: secretary. Mr W. J. Taylor: treasurer. Mr D. W Holland; vice-presi-dents. the Rev. P. A. Peters, of Timaru. and Mr F G. Collin. of Greendale. The following were elected to the Archer Home Board: Messrs J R. Dodge, J. A Bartlett. N Brown. A. R. Jordan. G E. McKessar. D. Wilson, and Mrs E Stead.

Yesterday, on "association Sunday." about 18 ministers in :he Christchurch area exchanged pulpits for the morning services.

to limit or reduce subsidies c uld be a good thing for New Zealand if it led to a reduction et milk production