THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS ISSUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16606, 18 July 1914, Page 10

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS ISSUE.

Prodablt a good many earnest democrats are in doubt just now as to the course they should pursue in regard to the Bible in schools campaign. They have an understandable disinclination to resist the demand for a referendum, on the ground that any considerable section of the community should have the right to a plebiscite on a question of publio importance, but they fear that acquiescence in the demand for a referendum will be construed as approval of the programme of the Bible in Schools League. It should, however, bo possible for the ordinary citizen to differentiate between the general principle of the referendum and the present demand for a special referendum in the circumstances under which it is mado and in view of the programme of tho people who are demanding it; and wo are bound to say that in such circumstances as those at present existing the only course for tho defender of the secular system to adopt is to join in the campaign against tho Bill that is now before Parliament. Obviously it would be folly for the defenders of the system to hold their hands until the Bill has been passed, because by tbat time they would have an enormous t-niount of leeway to make up in the matter of organisation and in the work of rousing public opinion. Tho meeting that will be held on Sunday afternoon, of course, is really a meeting to protest against the whole programme of the Bible in schools party, and the upholder cf the existing education system certainly cannot afford to discriminate in such circumstances - between the object of tho party and tho means by which it hopes to succeed. This is not the season that one would willingly select for holding an open air gathering, but th© promoters of the meeting have mado alternative arrangements, and it is essential that some such method should bo adopted of giving tho citizens tho opportunity to express their views on the great issue. The fate of the Referendum Bill is perhaps not likely to be influenced by publio meetings now, because the members of the House of Representatives havo presumably made up their minds on tho subject, but the ultimate issue will come up for discussion again before the end of the year, and the leaders of tho defence movement must not neglect any opportunity of strengthening their lines.