BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15660, 14 July 1914, Page 8

BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS

REFERENDUM BILL.

CHANCES OF BECOMING LAW.

REJECTION OR ALTERATION

|BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.}

Wellington, Monday. The principal subject of conversation in the lobbies and political circles generally just now is the Bible in Schools Referendum Bill. It appears to be arousing even greater interest than the Licensing Bill. The general opinion at present is that the Bill, in its present form, at all events, has little or no chance of becoming law, and opinion is even divided as to whether it will pass its second reading. It may be expected, if the Bill gets into Committee, that attempts will be made to alter the form o{ the ballot paper and to make several separate and distinct issues, instead of the one proposal suggested in the schedulo of the Bill.

There are members who will vote against any proposal to make Bible lessons in schools possible, and there are others who will vote for everything that tho Bill contains. On the other hand, there are those who are in favour of undenominational religious teaching, or Bible lessons, in the schools, conducted by tho teacher?, but who are opposed to giving the clergy tho right of entry. The Nelscn system, providing for instruction of children in the schools outside tho ordinal"' school hours, will probably find some sipporters, also. Present indications are that tho Bill will not come up for its second reading this week. THE CATHOLIC FEDERATION. RESOLUTIONS OF PROTEST. The Huntly branch of tho Catholic Federation has forwarded the following resolution to tho Prime Minister:—" With very sincere respect, we, Catholic Fcderationists of Huntly, beg leave to recall to your mind a statement attributed to you this week when receiving a deputation of trades unionists. You are credited with saying: 'It was hardly fair to allow a majority to use funds to which a minority were compelled to subscribe for purposes of which the minority did not approve.' That is exactly our attitude on the Bible in schools referendum question. All New Zealanders are compelled to subscribe funds for the purposes of education. A section- of the people now seeks to use these funds, in part, for a purpose (religious instruction) of which other sections do not approve. We sincerely trust you will apply your principle vigorously to the employment of our education funds; to secure that these funds will not ha employed, in any measure, for religious purposes suited to the mind of a portion of the community, to the exclusion of religious purposes suited to tho mind of tho rest of the people.''' The Paeroa branch of the Catholic Federation and the Roman Catholic congregations of Te Aroha and Manawaru, have carried resolutions against tho Bible in schools referendum. SUPPORTERS OF THE MEASURE, APPRECIATION EXPRESSED. Resolutions expressing appreciation of the action of the Government in bringing ■in the Referendum Bill desired by the Bible in Schools League, and strongly urging the members of Parliament for the districts to support the Bill in the House, have been passed by the Motukaraka branch of the Bible in Schools League ; the Paparoa 'f'ndist Circuit; the Thames Methodist Church: the vestry of St.. Columba's Anglican Church, Auckland; and the vestry of the Paparoa Anglican Church; the congregations of St. Andrew's, Coromandel, and Whangapoua Presbyterian Churches; and the Coromandel branch of the Women's League. CANDIDATE FOE CITY EAST. MR. GUNSON DECLINES REQUEST. A deputation from the Auckland East District Committee of the Bible in State Schools League has approached Mr. J. H. Gunson, chairman of tho Auckland Harbour Board, to ascertain whether he would be prepared to accept nomination as a candidate for Auckland East at tho general election in the interests of the Bible in Schools League. Mr. Gunson informed the deputation that he could not accede to its request. He explained that, as he would not oppose Mr. A. M. Myers, tho member for the district, it was unnecessary for him to discuss further the proposal of the deputation.