Bible Reading in Schools

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8144, 18 November 1905, Page 7

Bible Reading in Schools

The following is an extract from a manifesto issued by the Bible-in-Schools League: —" As the General Election is now close at hand, we ask all those who are in favour of the restoration of ihe Bible to our public schools to give their earnest attention to the present position of the movement. A Bill was introduced during the past session by Mr Sidey, Member for Caversham, providing for a plebiscite to be taken on ihe question. This Bill was read a second time on the 19th of July, by a majority of 17; but on the day when it was set down for committee, its opponents took advantage of I;ne forms of the House to " talk out" another Bill, which stood before it on the Order Paper, and so prevented Mr Sidey's Bill from coming on again during the session. It seemed to us that a ißill supported by petitions from more than 13,000 electors did not stand on quite the same footing as an ordinary private member's Bill, and that the Premier might fairly be asked to give another day for its discussion. On the 26th of August he was asked to receive a deputatfon on the subject; he replied that ho feared he could not spare the time to receive one, but would give a definite answer later on. Nothing more was heard from him till the 20th of October, when he wrote to the effect that he did not consider it desirable to receive a deputation.

It ia clear that nothing can be obtained from the Premier, nor from Parliament, till members are convinced that the Bible in-Schools question is a serious one; and from the point of view of the ordinary politician, no question is serious unless it turns an appreciable number of votes. For this reason, we urge upon all who are interested in this question to make their influence felt during the coming elections. "We ask them, unless there are strong reasons to the contrary, to vote only for such candidates as pledge themselves to support a Bill for referring the question to a direct vote of the people.

We are very anxious that the electors shonld hare an opportunity of saying plainly whether they are, or~are not, in favour of the restoration of the Bible to our public schools, and the issue should not be confused, as it was in Victoria, by the introduction of other questions." For the Executive, Bible-in-Scliools League—James Gibb 'chairman), William Allan, John G. AY. Aitken, F. Arkwright, E. Balcombe-Brown.Thomas H. Easterfield, J. Kennedy-Elliott, P. AY. Fairclough, J. Eeed Glasson, F. Wallace-Mackenzie, John'McLean, J. McKercovr, J. Gibson-Smith, T. H. Spro't, Frederic AVellington (Bishop).