BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 287, 4 September 1928, Page 13

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Sir, —I am not going to attempt to deal with “A New Zealander's” further rigmarole of palpable irrelcvancies. He suggests that the Reform Party did not commit itself to the retention of our secular system of education I Is it not a tact that the present Prime Minister before the last general election announced as one of the planks in his party’s policy: the maintenance of our free, secular and compulsory svstem of education? You yourself, Mr. Editor, admitted this over a year ago when I challenged you (in “The Dominion”) on the question. Why, then, did the Prime Minister announce the retention of the present secular system as part of the official party policy? Did lie forget to consult them before making the announcement? If he did, did they, collectively or individually, through the public Press (and in such a way that the electors of the Dominion would be fully and honourably apprised of the fact) repudiate the Prime Minister’s announcement? Did, for example, Sir John Luke, the Hon. R. A. Wright, and Mr. Forsyth (three Reform members for Wellington seats) announce through the Press of Wellington, or by means of prominent posters, or by leaflets to the electors, in their respective constituencies, that, they repudiated the Prime Minister’s “official” statement as to the party's policy on this important question? Surely they were under moral obligation to do so —were they, not? One thing seems indisputable, that thirty-seven members of the Reform Party have, for reasons best known to themselves, repudiated the Prime Minister's officially announced policy on this question! The suggestion that the so-called “Religious Exercises Bill” was, or is, in no way incompatible with the tecularity of the present Act discloses brazen effrontery on the part of those making it; and, no doubt, accounts for (heir gallantly—like our friends “A New Zealander” and “Secular-Nou-Secularist” —sniping from the dug-ins of anonymity I —l am, etc., HUGH MACKENZIE. Wellington, August 30.