A REFERENDUM ADVOCATED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 20 April 1909, Page 4

A REFERENDUM ADVOCATED.

[TO THIS EWTOK.J Sir,—-lu the majority of the day schools of the United States, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, and South Africa, the Bible is read daily, but New Zealand has banished the Bible from the State Schools some 35 years ago, with the result that there are .a great percentage of young men, native born, in our gaols, besides the effects seen in other directions. Parents who desire to see their children get the highest possible training during the short school life, are urged to work for the restoration of the Bible to our schools by attending the annual meeting of householders on Monday, 26th iust., and only voting for candidates who are pledged to get the School Committee to take a local referendum on Bible reading. If a public hall has been engaged for the annual meeting, two black boards should be provided, one for the list of candidates who are “for referendum on Bible reading,” and the other for the list of those “ against referendum.” Wives of householders can vote at the above meeting. The referendum could be easily taken with the aid of the children, each parent to have supplied within 30 days a voting paper with the following questions thereon, to be signed and returned : (1) I agree to allow my child to take part in a daily Bible reading at the Slate school. (2) I object to my child taking part in a daily Bible reading at the State school. Voters to cross off the clause they object to. If the 2000 School Committees in the Dominion find parents are favourable, Parliament will be approached this session.—Yours etc., S. Peakson. 253, Cuba Street, Wellington, 15th April, 1909. P.S. —School Committees are advised that copies of the “ Ten Commandments” for displaying in class rooms, being sanctioned by the majority of Education Boards, are now procurable from the Bible Depot, 71 Willis Street, Wellington.