BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15662, 16 July 1914, Page 9

BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS

PETITIONS OF PROTEST.

OVER 38,000 SIGNATURES.

[Nt TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. Further petitions protesting against the Bible in Schools Referendum Bill were presented to Parliament yesterday. Among the members presenting petitions were Messrs. J. A. Young (Waikato), J. Bollard (Eden), A. Harris (Waitemata), T. W. Rhodes (Thames), V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands), and R. F. Bollard (Raglan). The total number of signatures on the petitions was 9463, making the total number of signatures on all petitions against the Bill 38,082. As was only to be expected, members 'of Parliament are receiving numerous communications from their constituents upon the subject of tho Bible in schools referendum. Some letters contain upj braidings, jome verge on abuse. Some ask for deputations to be received and I some few praise. Both sides of opinion I are represented in the communications. i One North Island member states that ho has definitely refused to answer any letters asking for his opinion of the referendum or to discuss the matter in any way ■ because in his opinion, under the stress | of present bitterness, little points would | bo made by both sides of his utterances i that wero never intended, and would proI bably be used unfairly in evidence against j him by his political opponents. I SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL. Resolutions expressing appreciation of tho action of the Government in bringing in the Referendum Bill requested by the Bible in Schools League have been passed by i the officials of the Whangarci Methodist Church, the quarterly moetings of tho Coromandel and Hamilton Methodist Churches, the congregations of the Frankton and Coromandel Methodist Churches, tho Auckland Methodist Young Women's Bible Class Union, by the Huntly, Waihi, | and Frankton branches of the Women's ; League, tho Te Kopuru branch of the ; Bible in State Schools League, by the ■ Hamilton East Church, tho Coromandel I branch of the Bible in Schools- League, I and the St. Paul's branch of the Church of England Men's Socioty.