BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 August 1928, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

SUBJECT NOT REOPENED

AN AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN

(By Telegrqph) (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter).

WELLINGTON, Bth August. ’ . There was a promise some days ago when an amendment to the Education Act was introduced in the Legislative Council having a} its object the introduction of a system of non-sectarian religious instruction in schools that the whole subject of Bible in Schools would he reopened. When the Bill was called on for its second reading in the Council this afternoon, however, its sponsor asked that it be allowed to he withdrawn.

The author of the measure (the Hou. G. M. Thomson) said that the failure of the Bible in Schools League last session to achieve its object had led him to look into the question somewhat fully, and ho had'come to the* conclusion that prob- \ ably" the best and most peaceable , solution was to adopt some slight modification of the system now in vogue in Victoria, which was, working profitably to a certain extent.-- He said he had drawn up suggestions and submitted them to the executive of the league but the league was committed to the present scheme and could not see its way to make any compromise. whatever. He • v had then a'pproached the of the “Nelson system” and they were under the impression that they would have , an opportunity later to move amendments to the Education Act but no such, opportunity came. ' \ Mr Thomson said that the introduction of his Biil had .been delayed ' through his own enforced absence in Dunedin and it was unfortunate that his Bill was introduced on the day after a measure on the same subject was Re- ' feated in the House of Representa r ' lives. “Some people,” said Mr Thomson. “thought I had isshed my Bill in a challenge but there was no such intention in my mind. My desire throughout has been to throw out what I thought was a very peaceable solution of (lie problem. I think the Bill has . done the work I intended it to do. It has been made known and I now ask that it he withdrawn.”

The Bill was accordingly allowed to be withdrawn.