CORRESPONDENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 199, 24 July 1931, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The enclosed copy of the open letter issued by this committee to the executive of the Bible-in-Schools League touches on a question of general interest and importance, and we shall be obliged if you can lind space in your columns for its insertion.—Yours faithfully, L. J. RETALLICK, Secretary. Wellington, 'July 21, 1931.

An open letter to the president and members of the Bible-in-Schools League executive. Ladies and Gentlemen, —You have issued an appeal to the church people of the Dominion to support the Bill to be introduced into tlie House of

Representatives by Mr H. Holland, M.P., to secure the passing of legislation enacting Bible reading in the

State schools. You have, by arrangement with the Roman Catholic Church, reached an agreement under which the opposition to the Bible-in-sehools, which has hitherto been offered by the Roman Catholic Church to legislation giving sanction to such reading, has been withdrawn. The Parliamentary Committee of the Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand desires to point out that in all

the public statements issued by your League you have failed to make clear that the price of the agreement with the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church is that they shall not be called upon to pay any proportion of the cost of such Bible reading, and that that agreement can only bo fulfilled by the Parliament of this country agreeing to vote to the Roman Catholic Church a sum equal to onerseventh of the total cost of such Bible reading in State schools. We desire to also point out to you that, in fairness to the church people of the Dominion, ns well as in perfect openness, this should have been 'made cleay by you as it will involve on the part of Parliament a cash vote to the Roman Catholic Church of at least £13,000 per annum; and should there be two hours of Bible reading in each week the amount would be increased to £26,000 per annum. The Bill, as approved by your executive. therefore, is asking that the Parliament of New Zealand, with the Consent of the people of the Dominion, shall agree to buy the approval of the Roman Catholic Church to the Bible-in-schools programme for a cash payment; in other words, you have agreed to pay this price for their assistance. We feel that we are under an obligation to the church people of New Zealand and the members of Parliament to direct their attention to this vital provision, involving as it does an important principle and a heavy cash payment for the privilege of introducing Bible reading into State schools. Moreover, this committee is of the opinion that should Parliament enact this legislation in the terms of the Bill proposed it will be regarded as the entrance of the wedge for the full claim of the Roman Catholic Church to a grant of £250,000 per annum for State aid to their schools. In view of the , urgency of this matter and of its far reaching importance, this committee requests that your executive will reconsider the whole matter and remove the objectionable clause from the Bill.

Issued by the Parliamentary Committee of the Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand (Incorporated). July 16, 1931.