BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 June 1914, Page 5

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. PROVISIONS OF THE BILLi. (By TelcgrapJr—Special to the Star./ WELLINGTON, This Day. The religious instruction in the Schools Referendam Bill provides that v p'.'ll shall be taken simultaneously ■vith the geneml election under.the provisions of the Electoral Act. Each ,-oter will be entitled to one vote. There is no reference «o the majority requird ; the assumption >s that a bare maiority decides. •■"•. The form of question is set out-in he schedule as follows: — "Religious instruction in schools'" .•eferenduin. Scheme of instruction. — Provisions, will be made for reading'in :he public' schools within school hours >i selected Bible lessons from a reading book to be provided by the Education" Department, such reading to be conlucted under the supervision of a pabic school te.-.'char; but no- sectarian teaching to be allowed, "Provision to be made for religious instruction to bo.given within school hours to children; by the Minister of "heir denomination or' by accredited substitute. • ," "Any parent shall have right, it'ft* moose's, to withdraw his child from Bible reading or from religious instruction or from both.- "[ vote in favok of the above system. "I vote against.the above system.'* The Minister of Education must Jay the result of the poll' before Parliaiient. SCHOOLS DEFENCE LEAGUE. WELLINGTON, Juno 28. The National. Schools' Defence League held a demonstration at the Basin Resjerw this afternoon,wlifen speeches were <de r urac.proposal to Introduce Bible lessons or religious teaching in fc>i*ta schools. '.'■.'' The following resolutions were davlirtid carried : < \ ; ; 3tate_ Constitution should guarantee fIW exercise and enjoyment of religious pro--e.'sion and worship without discrimination, and therefore-liiost emphatically v>ti> tests against the proposal to their particular form of religious in*t;'Uo' '.ion into our State schools by plebiscite or referendum. < '"':'"' J '.

2. "As the proposals of the Bible-in-Schools League involbe (a) compulsion on minorities to contribute to the cost of religious instruction of children of majorities; (b) right of entry during hours of compulsory attendance., and consequently introduction of seotarian differences and strife into ( our. State schools j (cj the aisumption of the right to compel attendance at religious lessons (by demanding ai written-request from parents for eieiription of their children) this meeting strongly, protests against such unjust and outrageous proposals. .[. .-., „■;,/• 3. "As teachers in our primary school* have entered the service,of the State subject to no religious .test, this meeting con-, iiders it a gross injustice and'' delibreat* breach of faith to compel them' to conauct leligioug lessons unacceptable to the people as a whole, denying to them.as teachers what is conceded to them as parents." '■ A CATHOLIC PROTEST. 7 WELLINGTON, This Day.—The annual meeting of. the Catholic Federation last night carried a protesting against the proposed refer- \ andiim oh the Bible-in-Schppls question as a violation; of'the rights of conscience of a large.- sectioniff citizens an injustice to teachers, andean iniquitous ."proposal to/fax.alL people for the teaching of religion accepta||le to certain denominations only. .'■), ~_ ■ " •■■'■''■■"'-• —.- •'■'' ■'■■■■ 4'jj■' ','.'".'.