REFORM PARTY AND THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 34, 3 November 1928, Page 25

REFORM PARTY AND THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Sir, —I stated in a previous communi cation I. at the request of the exeeutivi of the National Schools’ Defence League wrote to the Prime Minister a fortnigh ago (October 16) asking whether thi maintenance of the present free; secular and compulsory system of education wa: included in the official platform of th< Reform Party. Yesterday (October 30) J received the following reply:—’ • “Dear Sir, —In reply to your letter of ’ the 16th instant I desire to inform you that one of the objects of the New Zealand Political Reform League is to maintain freedom of political conscience and opinion and of the approved principle of free, secular and compulsory education. —Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) J. G. Coates.” Now, Sir, if the Reform Party stands (as the Right Hon. the Premier apprises us). for the: approved principle of free, secular and compulsory education, can the Premier or Mr. E. A. .Tames (Dominion secretary of the Reform Party) or you, Mr. Editor, candidly explain to us, how, only a few weeks ago, more than 80 per cent, of the members of the Reform Party in Parliament voted for a “Religious Exercises” "Bill, which was a direct and deliberate violation of their so-called approved principle?”—l am, etc.,

HUGH MACKENZIE. Wellington, October 31.