INDIRECT METHODS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 July 1927, Page 5

INDIRECT METHODS

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS BILL. A SIGNIFICANT DEBATE. TALK ON MOTOR-BUSES. liY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THE STAR. WELLINGTON, July 20. A rema 1 liable degree ox interest appeared to be taken by members of the idolise oi Representatives to-night-when Mr. T. M. Wilrord moved the second reading of tne Motor Omnibus Amendment Jjill it seeks to dispose of the right 01 appeal to the Transport ooard irom a decision of local bodies in regard to bus licenses, and arises *rom a case in the Wellington area where a local authority considered that additional buses were desirable, but the Transport Appeal Board vetoed their decision

The significant fact about the long debate which ensued was that if it continued till 12.30 a.m. no fresh Bill could be discussed, and tne next item on the order paper was the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill.

Labour members staged an amusing demonstration of objection early in the sitting. They had a large number of petitions from the State Education Defence League in opposition to- the Bible reading in schools measure, and they endeavoured to spread the presentation over as long a time as possible by submitting the petitions one by one. There was much laughter when Mr. Speaker intervened with the helpful suggestion to the member for Manakau that he was at liberty to present ail the petitions on the same subject simultaneously, whereupon, amid laughter, Mr Jordan produced a large handful.

Mr. F raser (Wellington Central) gave away the object of the active talk on the Omnibus Bill when he congratulated its author on the favourable place it had obtained on the order paper and the great attention it had received. The next Bill, he added, would take a very secondary place. Mr. McKeen (Wellington South) : “\\ hat is it?” (Laughter.) Mr. Eraser: “It is the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill,” (Surprised exclamations from members. “Uh, is it: ’ ’ Mr. Fraser urged that the Omnibus Bill could be more profitably debated, and with this opinion a. number of members showed agreement by continuing the discussion.

WELLINGTON. July 21

Soon after 12.30 a.m. Mr. Wilford had an opportunity of replying on the conclusion of the debate. He caustically congratulated the House upon so carefully considering the matter, which .some might have thought was merely airing a local grievance. A flood of light had been thrown on the operation of the statute (Laughter.) The .second reading was defeated on a .division, by 39 votes to 15. and the House adjourned.