NO SALUTE TO FLAG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23791, 19 October 1940, Page 10

NO SALUTE TO FLAG

J EHOVAH' S WITN ESSES CHILDREN AT SCHOOL EDUCATION BOARD'S POSITION [ry telegraph —OWN correspondent] "WELLINGTON, Friday The attitude of members of the sect of Jehovah's Witnesses to the saluting of the flag in schools was discussed at a meeting of the Wellington Education Board, when a letter was received from the head teacher of the Makuri School, stating that three pupils, one aged 13 and two others in the primers, had apparently been instructed by their parents, who were Jehovah's "Witnesses, not to take part in the ceremony of saluting the flag at the school. One of the parents had brought a gramophone record by Judge Rutherford to the school to prove that saluting the flag was contrary to their religion. The teacher asked if she had power to suspend the pupils. Mr. C. H. W. Nicholls said it was clear the board had no authority to enforce attendance at tho ceremony. Provision was made for conscientious objectors. They could stay away from history lessons if they wanted to, and, in its broadest sense, saluting the flag could be regarded as history. While all would deplore parents instructing their children not to show loyalty, the board could not suspend the children. The chairman, Mr. W. V. Dyer, agreed the board coukl do nothing. He said the point he was concerned with was the effect of the refusal on the other children. The suggestion was made that those children who did not wish to attend be kept in the classroom and it was decided to instruct the teacher accordingly.