RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 19697, 26 October 1927, Page 11

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

REPORT ON PETITIONS VOLUNTARY SYSTEM ADVOCATED [From Odr Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 25. Tho Select Committee of the House of Representatives, which was appointed to hoar petitions regarding the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, presented its report to-day through Mr Hudson (Motueka), the chairman, and the matter was discussed till the dinner adjournment, the report being thus talked out. This result has no bearing on the position of the Bill, which still remains on the Order Paper awaiting the Government’s promised opportunity to have it considered. The committee reported Tho committee has heard evidence on the subject matter of these petitions, and Is of opinion that tho New Zealand State system of free, secular, and compulsory education, under which our children have received incalculable benefits, and under which, after fifty years’ experience, our people, the immense majority of whom have passed through our schools, compare most favorably morally, socially, and religiously with tho people of any other part ot the world, should be maintained. Further, that the committee is fully alive to the value of Biblical and religious instruction, and is ot opinion that lull opportunity should be given lor the adoption of a voluntary system, such as that known as the Nelson system, in which teaching is imparted outside the statutory school hours; under which the State exercises no authority in religious matters; under which there is no compulsion or violation of rights oi conscience. Mr Atmoro (Nelson) thought tho commitece’s resolution would give profound satisfaction. He was not one of those who believed that opposition to religions exercises in schools had come from agnostics, but rather from those who believed that the greatest disservice that could be done to true religion would he to place it in tho hands of the State. Before the war_ Germany had a system whereby religious instruction was given for three hours weekly to every class, and events had shown that that system had not done Germany much good._ History revealed that some of the bitterest fights for liberty had been waged against a dominating sect that was trying to dominate the State. Anything that would tend to disrupt the State had to be bitterly opposed. SOME VOTING DETAILS. Mr Atmoro proceeded to contend that tho report showed that for the second time a committee of tho Legislature had shown by an overwhelming majority its desire that the present system bo not interfered with. VV hen the Select Committee on the petitions divided that morning there was_a majority of five to two in favor oi the report. When an was moved affirming the desirability ot the Bill being allowed to proceed, the proposal was defeated by five votes to two, but tho members who voted in favor of tho Bill expressly stated their belief in the value of the Nelson system, which provided lor real religions instruction outside school hours, ibis system was availed of by 97 per cent, of children in Nelson, which favorably compared with the right-of-entry system in Victoria, where the clergy only took advantage of 3 per cent, ol their opportunities Ho contended that everything could be done under the Nelson system, throwing the onus not on the State, but on the church. Mr Eraser (Wellington Central) stated that the committee heard leading educational authorities and represontativoa of the churches, including the smaller denominations. Tho more he heard of tho facts and fallacies and arguments, the more he fclt_ that New Zealand’s sheet anchor was its present system of free, secular, and compulsory education. Once religious education was officially admitted into tho schools, it must inevitably lead to a demand for denominational aid lor schools. ... , , , Mr H. Holland (Christchurch), who is in charge of the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, spoke appreciatively of the good tone prevailing during the Select Committee s inquiry. _ The position was not so serious lor tho Bill as the report made out, as one supporter was ill and two others absent. Had all been there the vote would have been even, and the matter would have rested on the chairman's casting V °Mr Howard: Why not take tho vote D °Mr Holland added that tho Bill itself was never considered by tho committee, which only dealt with the petitions. Ho was speaking when tho adjournment interrupted tho debate.