BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 21240, 22 October 1932, Page 10

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

BILL GETS ITS CONGE [Per United Press Association’.] WELLINGTON. October 21. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., and went into Committee on tho Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill. Sir Francis Bell moved that the words “ religious ” and “ enabling ” bo deleted from the short title. The voting resulted in 10 for and 10 against, and the Chairman of Committees (Hon. J. A. Hanan) voted in favour of the amendment. The following is the division list:— —For the Amendment.— Bell. Masters. Carrington. Scott. Fagan. Stevenson. M'Calluni. Trevithick. M'lntyre. Witty. —Against the Amendment.— Allen. ' Moore. Buddo. Parr. Collins. Rhodes. Isitt. Smith. Hall-Jones. Snodgrass. Sir James Allen moved to insert in clause 2 the following definition of the Nelson system:—‘‘The Nelson system shall mean a system of religious instruction in which children whose parents desire them to participate are released from the secular instruction otherwise given in order to attend classes conducted by voluntary instructors or teachers approved by the school committee. Such classes must not be held during the four hours required daily for secular instruction under the provisions of the principal Act.” Sir James said that it was desired to legalise the Nelson system, which was apparently favoured by several opponents of the Bill. Sir Francis Bell said be objected to the amendment, as the Nelson system was not mentioned in the Bill. A division resulted in 10 voting for and 10 against, the amendment. The Chairman gave bis casting vote against the amendment. Sir James Allen said it was clear that the Bill did not have a chance of passing, and he would withdraw it.