SYNOD AND PREMIER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8782, 11 July 1914, Page 11

SYNOD AND PREMIER

BIBLE REFERENDUM THE GOVERNMENT STRONGLY COMMENDED. A big deputation from the Wellington Anglican Synod yesterday waited on the Prime Minister to present the resolution which had been adopted with reference to the, Religious Instruction Referendum Bill. Bishop Sprott said that on behalf of the Synod and himself he wished to tell Mr Massey how grateful they were for the reception of the doputa* tion. They wished to submit the re solution passed by the Synod on the Bth inst., as follows: — That the bislion, clergy, and laity of the diocese of 'Wellington, in Synod assembled, express appreciation of the action of the Government in introducing, and of Parliament in carrying through its first reading, the Religious Instruction Referendum Bill, containing the proposal requested by the churches constituting tlie league, and which has been endorsed by 144,000 electors or persons qualified to be electors. That this Synod points out that members of Parliament are not being asked to introduce religious instruction into the State schools, but are only being asked to allow the people to express at the ballot box their wishes for or against a particular system of religious instruction in -State schools. Moreover, the league is not asking for alternative proposals, but for one system, which, when Introduced elsewhere, has proved’ so satisfactory -to the vast majority of the people that it has never been disturbed. . That this Synod expresses the earnest hope that Parliament will carry through all its stages . during the present session, of Parliament the bill as introduced,’ in compliance ; with the wishes of so many thousands of the- electors of the Dominion. ’ , ■

This was . carried by - ninety votes to two, only one layman and one clergy man dissenting. ,He only.-wished, to emphasise; one point—that .members of Parliament were not, being asked to introduce religious instruction into the State schools, but simply to-allow the reference to the people, being made. It was quite competent for any citizen, member of Parliament, or othei person to support the Bill for a refer endum and yet be opposed to the objective" and to use every legitimate means to persuade the people not to vote for the system. They were simply asking that' machinery bo pro* vided so that the true will of the poopie might be ascertained. Mr E. F. Hadfield, the mover of the resolution, pointed out that since the removal of the Bible from the schools the popple at no time had been able to express their opinion on the disability imposed. It was unique that no material or pecuniary interest was involved in the question. Parliament was asked as a bare act of justice to give parents an opportunity of saying merely whether or not they wished the ‘ disability to remain. Mr' G. Shirtcliffo said that the question had become one of paramount importance throughout the country, and it would be very deplorable of it were forced into the arena of party politics. Unless the questions were decided in the way they suggested they feared it would become a political question preventing people from voting on ordinary political issues. If New Zealand was to be considered a democratic country he could see no valid reason against the .referendum , so as to effectually, and" definitely ascertain the voice of the people. He did not think the present turmoil and agitation would be stopped until the voice of the people has been ascertained. It would continue to he a live. question and would become the question of the day, overriding many other political issues. Whether the result of the referendum was for or against them they would be satisfied. . . , ~ . Mr D. M. Yeates stated that as a. schoolmaster he must Bay that the introduction of some system of religious instruction was absolutely necessary for the welfare of the children, and there was no insurmountable difficulty in the way. In the syllabus the teachers were enjoined to give moral lessons, hut there was no systematic moral teaching going on Any moral teaching was quite accidental. day tlhe "want of systematic moral teaching was seen, not only in the children, but young parents who were losing control of their children. Mr C. W. Lee, as an old teacher of forty years’ standing, • supported the remarks which had been made. MR MASSEY EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS. Mr Massey, in reply, stated that he did not propose to oiscuss the whole of the question of Bible teaching in schools. He had no doubt that would come later ou either in the House or on the platform. , The question the Government had to consider was whether they were justified in standing in the way of the representatives ot the people, and the people themselves, being given an opportunity of expressing an opinion on very, important question—a question in which a very large section of the community —probably a majority—w-ere intensely concerned. They came to the conclusion that they, would not. be justified in taking up such a position, and the result has 'been .that. a bill had been placed in the hands of Mr Allen. What the result of the bill would be he could not say, but he would like it to be understood that it was not intended to be a party question. (Hear, hear.) There were differences of opinion on the part of members of the Government with regard to the matter, and some of them would vote against Mr Allen’s proposition. So far as he was personally concerned, he did not pretend to be a bit better than the average citizen, but he did believe in the Bible. He had long thought it was a great pity that the representatives of the Christian _ sects were not able to join in arranging a scheme by which the rising generation in the public schools of the country might have an opportunity of gettingBiblical knowledge imparted to them without the element of sectarianism being introduced. He was sorry they were some little distance away from that end. That was by the way. The bill was now before Parliament, and Mr Allen would move the second reading within the next few days—probably at the beginning of next _ week. He hoped- that, as far as Parliament and the • country were concerned, there would be no attempt to mix up this proposal with ordinary politics. (Applause.)