AN EARNEST LEGISLATOR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 153, 2 July 1914, Page 5

AN EARNEST LEGISLATOR.

ON THE BIHLE-IN-SCHOOLS QUESTION.

Speaking at a meeting, held in Wellington on Sunday evening, to protest against the introduction of tihe Bible-reading in State schools, the Hon. W. Earnshaw, M.L.C., emphasised tlie statement that the people who^ would have to vote on the proposed referencmm did not even know what the text-book to be used in the school would contain (says the Post). Who was going to compile that book?

Voices: "Massey!" ''Herdman!" "'Fisher!" (Laughter.; The Hon. W. Enmshaw: Well, Mossey would do beter than Canon Garland—(laughter)—that's one for Massey. (Laughter.) I would sooner trust that three than I would trust throe parsons to compile that book. Tf you put an Anglican, a Roman Catholic, and a Wesleyan parson into a room to determine what were to be the chaptoi-s.t-a.ken to compile.that book, do you think they would agree? They would first ask, :'Which Bible?" Would, the Wesleyan or the Anglican agree that anything from the Apocrypha or the Talmud should be inchided? Certainly not. And which version would they take? The Education Department was to provide :i book, and did not know which would be the Bible version chosen. Was not this the entrance of the State into a reiigioiis is*s\xe? This question had got to be faced by the public and in the Lower House. The Tipper House had been called, a museum- (laughter)—but sometimes it would be found its members were like the weasel—difficult to catch asleep. And, as for himself, he had a pair of blankets that he had used for up-country trips, which he would take on to the -floor of the Upper Mouse to block the passage of the Will, and if there were half a dozen members with him they ootild do it. (Apphtnse.)