OUTFLANKED

Northern Advocate, 3 November 1927, Page 5

OUTFLANKED

| BIBLE IN ft- _____ v AMENDMENT CARRIED. THE BILL DEFEATED. (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Religious Exercises in Sehoo Bill came up for its second reading i the House yesterday. When the Bill was called on, Mr I Fraser argued that it involved appn priation, in that it stipulated that Hymnal was to be prepared by th Education Department. Mr Speaker said if there was appn priation it was incidental to the Bi and that he must leave the matter t the judgment of the Chairman o Committees and allow the second rea-: ing to proceed in the meantime. In moving the second reading, M H. Holland (Christchurch North) sal he was proud of the educational system but the only blot on it was the absenc of the Bible from the schools. Th Bible had been regarded as somethin; of a reptile and the Bill was long over due. When the manual was bcin; drawn up every Christian Church woul. have an opportunity of attending i conference, and he was particular!; W anxious that no barriers should hi * raised. The Bill was approved by al sections of the community and iti « supporters had the highest ideals, es peeially in regard to the welfare oi the children of the community. Mi Holland referred to the uplifting in fluenee of the Bible, in the stories i 1 contained, and asked if there were anj present who would object to the read ing of a passage from the Bible, such as the 'Sermon on the Mount. More than 1,000,00 Q people, as represented by the churches, supported Bible readings in the schools and the Roman Catholic Church was the only Church that was solidly against the proposal. He gave an absolute and emphatic denial to the statement that the teacher? were hostile. Mr Holland said that if actual religious teaching, instead of Bible readings was contemplated, he would have nothing to do with the Bill. He admitted that the proper place to teaeh religion was in the Sunday School, but, unfortunately, half the children did not go to Sunday School. Therefore, it was necessary' to show them the Bible in the school. The . Leader of the Opposition: “What about the home?" Mr H. Holland: “By all means, that is the place to teach it, but we don’t do it." People have not sufficient interest; they have been brought up for 50 years without religious instructions themselves. Mr H. Atmore said that when the late member for Christchurch North, Mr Holland 's predecessor, returned last year from a trip, abroad he had declared that when he went away he did so as a supporter of the Bible in schools in some form or other, but that he came back determined to oppose any interference with the present system.

Mr W. D. Lysnar: “Oh you need not bother about him.” Mr Atmore pointed out that every member in the House had been pledged according to his party's platform to support the present system of free secular and compulsory education, yet a‘statement had been made by the Hon. L. M. Isitt that he had a majority of the 80 members of the House in support of the Bill and that nine members of the Cabinet were pledged to him. The speaker pointed out that every Parliamentary Committee had reported against religious instruction at the hands of the State. He moved: “That the Bill be read six mouths hence” in order to give the promoters an opportunity to consider the effect of the Nelson system. In seconding the amendment the Hon. Sir A. Ngata said he was concerned about native children attending % the schools. There were, several re- ■ ligious sects amongst the Maoris and if Bible reading was introduced there was certain to be a lot of misunderstanding on the part of the Maori people. In certain cases it might lead to the withdrawal of native children from the schools altogether. He objected very strongly to the introduction of the Bible into schools and he regarded the movement as a confession of weakness on the part of the Church. Mr R. P. Hudson said the more he saw of the Nelson system the more he admired it. The system, however, had never had a chance. He believed It would be a good thing if the Nelson system were introduced at every school in the Dominion. He intimated that he proposed to move in committee for the institution of the Nelson system in preference to the system proposed. Mr W. Girling said he had nothing against the Nelson system, but there were many children who did not enjoy the benefits of the system, of any religious instruction. It could not be said that the clergy were neglecting their work, for there were not enough clergymen to go .around. When the Bill was in committee it would be open for members to amend the Bill in such a way as to make it possible for the Nelson system to be adopted as an alternative. Mr W. D. Lysnar said it was a reflection on Parliament that no religious instruction was given in the schools and the sooner omission was repaired the better. There was nothing in the Bill to which objection could bo taken by any particular sect, as the opportunity was given

for representation at the conference which would draw up the manual. Mr Lysnar suggested that, in view of the- amendment, which aimed at making it possible for the Nelson system to be conducted, opposition to the bill should be withdrawn. Mr H. T. Armstrong said they did not want in the schools a concoction of both Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. The Bill would destroy the secular system of education if it were carried and the demand for denominational subsidies would bo unanswerable.

Mr V. H. Potter said if the Bill were passed ■with the proposed additional clause giving a school committee the option of adopting the Nelson system, sectarian warfare would he introduced at every school committee election. Mr Atmorc’s amendment was carried by .°.G votes to .11 and the Bill not read a second time. DIVISION LIST.

AYES (30).— Armstrong, Atmore, Bertram, Bell, Buddo, Coates, Elliott, Field, Forbes, Fraser, Ilenare, H. E. Holland, Horn, Howard, Hudson, .lordan, .1. A. Lee, McCombs, McKeen, Martin, H. G. R. Mason, J. Mason, Ngata, Parry, Pomare, Potter, Ransom, F. .1. Rolleston, .1. C. Rolleston, Savage, Seddon, Smith, Sullivan, Vciteh, Ward, Wilford. NOES (31).—Anderson, Bellringer, Bitchencr, Burnett, J. McC Dickson, .1. S. Dickson, Girling, Glenn, A. Hamilton, J. R. Hamilton, Harris, Hawkcn, Hockly, H. Holland, Hunter, D. Jones, Luke, Lysnar, McLennan, McLeod, MacMillan, Nash, Noswortdiy, Reid, Rhodes, Sidey, Stewart, Sykes, Waite, Williams, Wright.