BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 191, 11 May 1938, Page 12

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Meeting Of Churches To Be Called CLAUSE POSTPONED Decision Of Minister Of Education Postponement of consideration of the clause iu the Education Amendment Bill dealing with religious exercises in schools is to be recommended to the Parliamentary committee now considering the Bill and to the Government by the Minister of Education,. Hon. P. Fraser. At the same time an effort is to be made to arrange consultations with representatives of churches and other organisations with a view to arriving at an acceptable solution of the problem. Mr. Fraser made his intention known yesterday in an address to delegates attending educational conferences at Wellington, and also in a communication dispatched to the Rev. J. Handy, of St. John’s Methodist Church, Ponsonby, Auckland. The letter to Mr. Handy was read at a meeting held in the Auckland Town Hall last night to protest against any interference with the voluntary religious exercises in schools carried out under arrangements between school committees and' education boards. Ar. this meeting Mr. Handy represented the Methodists of Auckland. Mr. Fraser’s Letter, Mr. Fraser’s letter to Mr. Handy read as follows:— “Please accept my sincere thanks for your telegram requesting me to furnish you with facts concerning the proposed submission to Parliament of the question of religious exercises in the State primary schools at present being carried on under arrangement between education boards and school committees, but for which no provision is made in the education system of the Dominion, which, by law, provides in sub-section 4 or section 56 of the Education Act, 1914, that ‘the teaching shall be entirely of a secular nature.’ .In view of the decision of Parliament in 1877, and ou many subsequent occasions, I am forced to the conclusion that the religious exercises in practice under the arrangement mentioned do impinge on the secular system of education and are contrary to the repeatedly expressed decisions of Parliament. , “While I have evidence of many citizens agreeing with my opinion, the Bible-in-Schools League and many devoted members of various churches take an opposite point of view. There is a distinct and houest difference of opiu ion. This is a state of affairs most unsatisfactory alike to sincere supporters of the secular system and to the equally sincere advocates of religious exerciser in schools, who, I am sure, have no desire, knowingly or unknowingly, to act contrary to the decisions of the representatives of the people in Parliament. “In the circumstances, I announced I that I propose to submit the matter in dispute to Parliament, expressing the belief at. the same time that, the extension of the statutory recognition, for the first time, of the Nelson system of religious instruction as provided in clause 39 of the Education Amendment Bill, would provide adequate opportunity for those who earnestly wished to undertake the work of providing such instruction for the children. "There did not appear to me to be any sound objection to this democratic course. In view, however, of the fact that the proposed action is likely to lead to bitter -and prolonged controversy. which cannot but prove inimical to the interests of education and religion alike, and confuse and even obscure the issues connected with the important educational reforms which are contained in the Bill, and which are its main provisions. I propose to recommend to rhe Education Committee of the House of Representatives, and. subsequently, to the Government, that consideration of clause 39 of the Bill be postponed and that an effort be made to arrange consultations with representatives of churches, and other organisations interested, with a view to endeavouring to arrive at a solution which may prove acceptable to those most intimately concerned ars well as to the Parliament and the people o.< New Zealand.” Avoidance of Controversy. In nts aihtress to educational delegates, Mr. Fraser said be had consid ered that religious exercises at present carried on without the sanction of the Act, auq under arrangements between school and education boards, in face of the repeated decisions of Parliament ou the question were impinging ou and setting a: nought the authority of the electee representatives of the people. I hope it will be possible by the exercise of goodwill mid Christian forbearance and brotherhood to avoid a controversy ou a question that arouses feelings out of all proportion to the part it plays in our educational system,” said' Mr. Fratser.

PUBLIC MEETING AT AUCKLAND

Call To Christians To Uphold Rights By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, May 10. The decision by the Minister of Education. Hon. P. Fraser, to recommend that no legislative action affecting present religious exercises in State schools b e taken pending consultation with representatives of churches and other organisations interested was announced at a public meeting under the auspices of the Bible in Schools League.' A telegram from the Minister was also read undertaking that the status quo would not be interfered with pending consultations. The meeting passed the following resolution: That this great meeting of Auckland citizens solemnly affirms that recognition of Almighty God is the cornerstone of the education system of any Christian community and it protests against any move to withdraw the small recognition now given. It rejoices in the decision of the Minister of Education to maintain the rights now enjoyed under the Education Act pending a conference of all parties interested in the religious education of our children and calls on all Christian people to uphold their rights in this matter while at the same time and in all charity safeguarding the rights of minorities.