BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 July 1928, Page 11

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

PROSPECTS BEFORE THE BILL

PROMOTER RATHER HOPEFUL.

(By Telegraph —Special to The Star.) WELLINGTON, July 25. Thp member for Christchurch North (Mr B. Holland), who will move the second reading of the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill’, a week to-day, is rather .hopeful of its prospects. Though it ha® not been possible to accurately take a count of members in view .of the cross current® of amendments, he informed . your correspondent that he is satisfied the Bill will, on this occasion, be delj®tod on its merits, which was not the case last session. “I-think tho voting will bo close- and it is> impossible to say to-day whether we are in the majority or the minority. lit is pleasing to me that last session eight Ministers ofthe Crown voted fox- the second reading, and when this question was put a® a suibstantiative motion seven Ministers suppoi-ted it mid two were against. As all those wlioi isuppoirted the Nelson system amendments are in favour of -01)1(3 religious teaching in school® and the supporters of my Bill, are also in the same category, it is fair to. assume that the majority of the House wishes to ,see religious instruction of some kind.

Of the Parliamentary delegation visiting Canada, Mr W. .T. Jordan is against the Bill, and the Hon..* "W. Ndfiworth.v and T. W. Rhode®, are in its favour. A small committee is being formed to organise matters in the house and-it i,s> possible that pair® may be arranged.