SCHOOLS TO BE SECULAR.

Evening Star, Issue 19025, 21 August 1925, Page 6

SCHOOLS TO BE SECULAR.

How contentious a subject religion can bo was illustrated in the House last night, when Mr Isilt’s mild little “ Rcligious Exercises in Schools Bill” was responsible for an all-night debate, members creeping home to their beds with tho first tradesmen’s carts at 7 a.m. Tho corresponding debate on tho Bill last session started a little earlier and was over at 1 a.m. Altogether about six hours were consumed by it, which would seem to most people to be long enough, as compared with eleven last night. For the inordinate length of the latest discussion, which is not likely to have caused one mind to bo changed on the principle of the measure, a special reason was suggested by a Reform member. He declared that it was nothing else but a struggle between the National and Labor Parties for the Roman Catholic vote, the Roman Catholic hierarchy having declared its invincible opposition to the Bill a few days ago. If that object weighed at all with members it was pursued much more zealously by the Labor Party than by tho Nationalists. One or two Liberals spoke in support of the Bill; the Labor men were one and all opposed to it, and no fewer than fourteen of their seventeen members thought it necessary to express their hostility in speeches. Labor voted, no doubt, in accordance .with its convictions—no Labor man was a supporter of the Bill, in tho division of last yearhut a good deal of that eloquence, adding nothing to tho arguments on the question, might have been spared. Mr Isitt described tho debate as remarkable for the torrent of abuse showered on him personally. Possibly that would have been tho same if ho had brought forward any other measure. Ho has made so many attacks on the Labor Party that kindness from its members would have been too much to expect whom tho opportunity was given them of returning blows. And an independent member, as he has been, holds always a difficult position in the House. It was ridiculous to accuse him of timidity, however, in waiting to bring down his contentious Bill until ho was retiring from politics. Tho Bill was presented just as soon, as the churches that are in favor of it had agreed on its clauses. It was before tho House two sessions ago, though it did not then got further than its first reading. And of all the members of the present Parliament Mr Isitt is among the last whom any dispassionate judgment would accuse of a lack of courage. The acrimonious and protracted debate was at least decisive. The Bill was killed on the motion for its second reading by 32 votes to 26. The adverse majority on the same reading a year ago was no more than one—32 to 31. The fate of the measure, however, was merely a question of time. If it had passed last night’s division it would have had small chance, even with the support which was given to it by the Minister of Education, of passing tho committee stage. Though there was only a minimum of religion in Mr Isitfs Bill —its proposals were for religious exercises, not for religious instruction—it sought obviously an impairment of the secular character of our State education, and a majority of our legislators aro not ready to see that system broken down. Let Mr Isitt’s “ nibbling ” at the system once be tolerated, and no one would expect the churches which have called for it

to 1)0 satisfied long .with mechanical exercises in the schools. If exception can bo taken to Mr Holland’s dictum, that “ the place for teaching religion was the chnrcfc, tho Sunday school, and the home,” it' should be agreed that the proper performers of such, a, function are not State school teachers, who are appointed on cpiito other qualifications. Outside of tho regular school hours religious instruction—something more than exercises—can bo given by our ministers in the schools. Tho best tiling will bo done for tile cause which they have at heart if they make the most of that opportunity.