RELIGIOUS EXERCISES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 July 1924, Page 5

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES.

ADVENTURE OF MR ISITT’S BILL

(By Telegranh—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, July 18. Previous measures seeking some modification of New Zealand’s secular system of education have been so harshly treated in the House of Representatives that even supporters of Mr Isitt s Religious Exercises in Schools Bill were surprised when it came within one vote of getting past the second reading stage. 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 the committee stage. While the Government and the Liberal Parties were thoroughly divided on the Bill, the Labour Party cast a solid vote against it, and they scored an important advantage by some late hour tactics which enabled them to secure a narrow victory. Mr Howard, one of the Labour members, was absent owing to his South African trip. He was what is technically known as a “dead vote,” but the Labour 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 heat. The incident is not of consequence in view of the measure’s poor prospects during the next stage. 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, and compulsory education. “Honestly,” said Mr Isitt to your correspondent. “I am more than satisfied with the division. You 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 the teeth of tlie fact that members of both parties had pledged themselves at last election to stand by the free, secular, and compulsory system. We came withiii two of securing a victory, which is indicative of a growing feeling in the Dominion that something must be done to bring the best influences to bear upon the children in our State schools.” “T Gin very encouraged,” added Mr Isitt, “because I fully believe that if during the next 12 months steps are taken to ascertain the will of the majority of the people nothing can prevent the Bill from passing in the next Parliament.”