BIBLE READINGS

Evening Star, Issue 18690, 19 July 1924, Page 9

BIBLE READINGS

FATE OF MR ISITT'S BILL AUTHOR’S OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 18. _ Previous mcasu’X's seeking some modification of Now Zealand's secular system of education have been so.harshlv treated in the House of Representatives that even the supporters of Mr Tsitt’s Religious Exorcises in Schools Bill were surprised when it camo within one vote of getting past the second reading stage. However, though encouraged. they realise that some votes car-l for the second reading carried a reservation regarding the committee stage, and it- is quite understood that a private member's Bill which meets with serious opposition on the second reading Is fated for defeat (or Its equivalent—serious modification) in tho committee stage. While the Government and Liberal Parlies were thoroughly divided on the Bill, the Labor Party cast a solid vote against it, and they scored an important advaritncTf, by pome late-hnnr ta.ct.icd which er 1 "’ 1 -- 1 Gmm to eeenrn +ho narrow victory. Mr. Howard, one of tho Labor members, was absent, owing to his South African trip. He was what is technically known as a “dead vote”; but the Labor Whip succeeded in trading this for a perfectly “ live vote.” that of a Reform member who was in the House during the debate. Had the latter member not, obliged there would have been a dead heal; but the incident is not of consequence, in view of the measure’s poor prospect during tho next stave.

The member for Christchurch North is greatly encouraged by his experience, and looks forward hopefully to next Parliament, when members, having been influenced by public opinion, will, he believes, come to the House empowered to modify their pledges on the question of free, secular, compulsory education.

“Honestly,” said Mr Isitt to your correspondent, “I am more than satisfied with the division. Yon have had great experience of Parliament, and I know you must agree that such a division five or six years ago would have been quite outside the range of possibility ; and this happened in tho teeth of the fact that the members of both parties had pledged themselves at the last election to stand bv the free, secular, compulsory system. Wo came within two of securing a victory, which is indicative of a growing feeling in the dominion that something must be done to brim? the best influences to bear upon the children in our. State schools. Surely one can have no stronger evidence of this than the fact that, extreme ns have been the differences concerning the nature of the measures required among the various sections of the Protestant churches, on this occasion all differences were suppressed, and for the first time in tho history of the struggle all Christian churches, with the small exception of the Roman Catholic Church, presented a united front. There were it least four or five members who definitely stated that had they not been bound by their pledge, they would have supported the Bill.” SYSTEM BEING PRACTISED.

“ One question which is absolutely pertinent to the matter, and which elicited no reply,” continued Mr Isitt, “ was why Bible reading and prayer exercises of a similar character to that proposed in the Bill are now being illegally practised in a very large number of our secondary schools without in one solitary instance arousing tho sectarian bitterness which critics of tho Bill predicted would follow its application to the primary schools. Seveneighths of the time occimied by the opponents of the Bill was taken in objections which cannot apply to it, because I mado clear in my second reading speech, and it is plain in tho measure itself, that the Bill does not provide for 1 Bible leaching, but for Bible reading.’ “T 'am very encouraged,” concluded Mr Isitt, “because I fully believe that if during tho next twelve months steps are taken to ascertain the will of the majority of the people, nothing can prevent tho Bill from passing in tho next Parliament, One all-important fact is that, from one end of the dominion to tho other, I received without solicitation resolutions in favor of the Bill passed by householders’ meetings when appointing school committees. I have hoard of four or |ivo resolutions against the Bill, but have not received them; and I believe that if tho 2,800 school committees throughout the country, composed of tho parents of children, wero consulted in the matter the majority of votes in favor of tho Bill would bo enormous,”