THE PREMIER'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 54, 1 September 1913, Page 8

THE PREMIER'S REPLY

The Hon. W. F. Massey, in replying, congratulated the speakers on the extremely moderate manner in which they had expressed themselves. He had tho opportunity of hearing tho views of the people on the one side recently, and it was only right and proper and fitting that he should hear the views ■of the people on the other side. There was one point upon whkh he was not quite clear. He should have liked to hear a suggestion from the deputation as to the manner in which the question should be put to the electors. Ihe point, to him, was exceedingly important, xand he thought a very great deal would depend upon it. He understood one of the deputation to suggestj that the Government should arrange to have the necessary legislation passed through during the present session. Already in the Houee and outside of it he had said that the Government had decided that it would not submit- any legislation during the present session with the object of providing for a i*eferendum on tho Biblo-in-ecnools question. ■ ' SECTARIAN DIFFERENCES. "That decision, in my opinion, will not be altered. lam not going to commit the Government for or against any proposal that may be considered by them next session. So far as- my own view is concerned, I may tell you this: as far as I am personally concerned I am in favour of moral and religious teaching in the public schools of this country, but here is the point on which I may probably differ from the members of the deputation. I am opposed to anytlu'ng which may introduce sectarian differences and sectarian bitterness — anything which will interfere with the secular system of education, and you have to convince me that what is proposed will not have that effect before I can look favourably on your side of the question. I shall have very greAt pleasure in submitting your representations 'to my colleagues in Cabinet at the very first opportunity." THE QUESTION TO BE SUBMITTED. • , Canon Garland : Do you want us to say anything on the form of the question to be submitted to the electors? Mr. Massey: Yes. Canon Garland said tho best answer he could give was that in the question should be included the principle that every child ahould have the opportunity of reading Bible lessons; that .every child Bhould have the right of being taught the faith of his fathers; that the decision of this should bo in the hands of his parents. So long as that principle was contained, they were content with the form in which the question was put. "There should," he added, "be one question put ; yes or no." As to the question raising the sectarian issue, he urged that Mr. Masßey should write to bhe heads of the States in which the system has been in force and ask what was the result in that particular respect and abide by their opinion. " "An ounce of their opinion is worth a pound of argument," he said.