BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15663, 17 July 1914, Page 9

BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS

THE REFERENDUM BILL,

EVIDENCE ON PETITIONS.

ULTIMATE • PASSAGE DOUBTED.

[DT TELTTGRAni.— COERESPONDKNT.] Wellington, Thursday. The Biblo in Schools Referendum Bill will not probably come before the House for some time as evidence is to be taken on • tho petitions presented on the subject. These have been referred to tho Education Committee. It is not intended to take voluminous evidence on points of controversy, and only a few representatives of each contending party will be heard. There are for instance certain features, such as the success or otherwise of tho system in Now South Wales, about which some members of tho House desiro reJiablo evidence. It is understood that the usual course will be adopted. The Bill will come down early next week, and be read pro forma a first time, and will then bo referred to the Education Committee. The opinion is gaining ground that the Bill will bo read a second time, but its further progress will certainly be very difficult.

A further batch of petitions against tho Bill was presented to the House to-day. The total number of signatures on the petitions is 12,983, making a total' of 51,065 signatures on all anti-referendum petitions presented to date. Tho members who presented petitions to-day were Sir James Carroll, the Hons. R. H. Rhodes and F. M. B. Fisher and Dr. Pomaio, and Messrs. J. A. Young, A. E. Glover, E. H. Clarke, W. J. Dickie, J. Payne, T. Wilford, J. A. Hine, H. Poland, D. K. Guthrie, C. A. Wilkinson, J. Pobertson, W. D.S. MacDonald, R. McCallum, A. Harris, G. R. Sykes, G. Pearce, J. Craigie, T. W. Rhodes, H. J. Okey, H. M. Campbell, J. H. Bradnoy, and A. M. Myers.