RELIGIOUS TEACHING

Evening Star, Issue 12925, 13 April 1908, Page 6

RELIGIOUS TEACHING

[Per United Pmss Association.] WELLINGTON, April 13. To-day the Court of Appeal rommed the hearing of the case Bruce and others v. th© Wanganui Education Board, an appeal from tho decision of Mr Justice Cooper. -Mr Skerrett, for the respondent Board, contended that the argument for the appellants, carried to its logical conclusion, would reduce the position of education boards to an extent never contemplated by the Act. The whole scheme of tho Act was that the 'Board should be the dominint power, and where powers were given to a committee! they were either minor powers or special powers to be exercised subject to the sanction of the Board. As to section 124, the words "a» herein provided" referred only to the power of inspectors, not to the powers of the Board. If a committee had the power to fix school hours without the control of the Board, there would be a want of uniformity in school hours in the various school districts under the control of a board. Section 137 of the Act showed that it was intended that the Board should have control of school boure. Mr Hut ton ako addressed the Court on behalf of the Board. Respondents and Mr Myers replied Judgment was reserved.