BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 12

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

THE POUTS GAL ASPECT. NEED FOR INDEPENDENCE. ARCHBISHOP AVERILL'S VIEWS. In urging continued support by the churches of the. Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, which recently failed to pass its second reading in the House of Representatives, Archbishop Averill made reference in his charge to the Diocesan Synod yesterday to the question of political support. " To me the most painful thing about the opposition to the bill is the fact that so many members of Parliament should go to the House pledged to oppose any movement for the public recognition of Almighty God in our State primary schools," the Primate said. "The party system must have sunk very lovy if loyalty to party excludes ar:y possibility of conscientious and independent judgment upon non-party measures dealing with the country's recognition of Almighty God, the highest welfare of the children and the good of the Dominion. Surely such measures should bo judged upon their merits, and not be included in any party or political programme. " The policy of the Bible in Schools League is not so much to ask would-be members of Parliament to pledge themselves to vote for the bill, but to go to Parliament without being pledged to vote against it. Personally I have no desire to ask candidates for Parliament to pledge thertiselves to support the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, but surely I have a right to ask them not to pledge themselves to oppose such a measure. I have more faith in men as men than as politicians, and I cannot believe that a majority ot men or women returned to Parliament would conscientiously oppose a measure which aims only at removing what a majority of people in this Dominion believe to be a blot upon our educational system and the fair name of our Dominion. " If politicians have any doubt about the wish of the majority of the electors, let them test it by means of a referendum. If the members of the allied churches will vote solidly for candidates who are not pledged to vote against the bill, we can be sure at any rate of returning to Parliament a majority of members who will treat religious matters with respect and fairness. To my mind we should raise the whole tone, of politics if we could cut out the growing practice of endeavouring to obtain for members of Parliament or would-be members of Parliament a definite pledge to support or oppose every sectional issue, and if could abolish or at any rate reduce the practice of bombarding the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers with deputations. It surely must be a great waste of busy men's time. I would reserve the right to Ministers to invite deputations if they so desired for the purpose of obtaining information, but would relieve them, of a great deal of the burden which is at present laid upon them. " We want statesmen, not merely politicians in this country; we want conscientious leaders and not men who are waiting to be led; we want lawmakers who will legislate for the good of the" country and not merely for any section, party or class. I do not think we are giving our Parliamentary representatives a fair run. At the present time <?nd under the present system the members of Parliament are delegates of different organisations and groups rather than men free to act as then* consciences bid for the general welfare of the country. The party system is altogether too mid, and men and women of character and high ideals are the greatest asset to this or any other country, whatever their port" labels may be."