PROTECTING THE SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 106, 31 October 1914, Page 3

PROTECTING THE SCHOOLS

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE. A meeting of the Executive of the New Zealand National Schools Defence League was held last evening, Mr. A. R. Atkinson (president) being in the chair. In view of the fact that the Bible-in-Schools League had resumed operations, it was decided that the defence of the present national system should, if necessary, be strenuously undertaken during the ensuing elections, though the defence league had withdrawn its organiser on the outbreak of war, and had no desire to raise any sectarian issue at the polls. The executive .expressed its great

gratification at the highly satisfactory character of the report of the Education Committee submitted to the House yesterday afternoon on the petitions against the proposals of the Bible-in-Schoola League, and also at the decisive and significant vote taken in the House in this connection. It was considered by speakers thai., the attempt made to delete the clause of the report expressing appioval of tho Nelson system and thereby to furnish justification for continuing the campaign of the Bible-in-Schools League, had met with the fate 7* deserved, being defeated by 46 votes to 17. The committee recorded its heartiest thanks to Professor Hunter for the effective and masterly way in which he conducted the Defence League's case before tho Education Committee of the House.