BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS LEAGUE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12259, 9 June 1914, Page 4

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS LEAGUE.

DEPUTATION TO MR E. P. LEE. M.P.

-This' morning a deputation lvpresentiu"- tho Oainaru branch of the Bible in Sciiools Lengue waited on llr E. I . Lee, M.P.. for tho purpose of asking that gentleman's suport to pa niensmv providing for a referenduin on the subject during the forthcoming session oi Parliament. Those comprising the deputation were Revs. R.'J. Porter, .1. D Russell. W. Wright. .1. A. Lochore, Messrs.!. H. Million. 0. Patterson. L. E Haines, A. Eraser, and G. Greniell. The. Rev. R. .1. Porter said that the deputation comprised members of the .Bible in Schools League, who were very much interested in the work and who were desirous of pushing the movement fovwai'<l as rapidly as possible. Eourteen thousand people or more had signified a desires to have the Bible restored in the public schools, and to have ihe work carried on in a similar manner to that in which it was carried on on tho other side. But before asking for the adoption of the New South Wales system the League would like Parliament to give an opportunity to the people express*their views on the matter. They would ask later that legislation be introduced to give expression to the wishes of the community; but on the other hand if the people showed that they did not wish, to have-the Bible restored to the schools then the League would, have to adopt work of a more educative character. Mr Porter continued that in agreeing to the referendum members of Parliament did not commit themselves to anything more that they showed they we're,prepared to I trust the people and that they did trust the people. He sincerely 'hoped that Mr Lee, as member for the district, would support the referendum when it came before Parliament. ; Rev. J. D. Russell .said he was secretary of the. local branch of the League, and he could say that about ISSO cards had been sent in by electors in Mr Lee's electorate showing that they were in favor of the objects'-of the Bible-in-Sehools League. Ho was sure that a great many more would hare similarly expressed themselves if they had been able to more -thoroughly canvass the electorate. Their officer had told them that the number of people out of sympathy with the League was very small indeed; that members of all the Protestant Churches .acknowledged that they were ready to .sign the cards. The League felt that it was going about its work in a right way. If there was a question in which the people were interested it was that of Bible teaching in schools, and it was the people themselves who should have the right to say whether it should form part of their educational system. What the League asked was that the Bible-in- . schools question should be dealt with' in the same mnnjjer. ns the licensing question. Mr Russell went on to say that the League desired to avoid party politics; at the same time unless something was done to give effect to their, wishes they would have to consider this asppct of the question. It was because it was a matter of conscience with many of them that they sought for legitimate mean.se of securing their right. Therefore they asked Air Lee to give his hearty support and agree to the referendum..

_ Rev. W. Wright also urged tlie dpsires of the .deputation on Mr Lee. He said, that '-some years ago a canvass .showed that 84 per cent, of the people were in. favor of reinstating the Bible in schools. -Matters had cooled somewhat since then; nevertheless he could affirm Mr Russell's statement that there was still o. genera! desire for its reinstotcment, Speaking of the New South Wales «ystcm, Mr Wright .said' it. had been in operation for half a century and worked' splendidly. Ten thousand 1 children received education without any friction whatever, and even the children of Roman Catholic , parents attended the 'Scripture classes in spit© of" priests ar,i;ll bishops, because such parents desircdl that their children should have Bible teaching. New South Wales teachers found no difficulty in carrying on the work, and it was very incredible that, teachers in New oZakind would find difficulty when their colleagues across the water found none at all'. Mr Wright said that some who were opposed l to Biblo teaching in schools .adimittedl that the New South Wales system was a solution of the difficulty. Mr Lee said he had listened with attention to the remarks madp. He understood that the present request of the supporters of the Bible-in-Sehools League was that the matter should be referred, to the general public for decision. The expediency of a change, in the educational system was not "what they were considering now. The question was, ( Are the public as a whole to have the right to determine whether or not the Bib'le should be taught in the public schools. Mr Lee said that when he was a candidate for election lie announced that he would support the referendum in respect to the Bible-in-seho'ols i question be'ing given to the people without at the same time he expressed no opinion as to the expedient of such a change in our national system of education. If a. measure is brought, forward under which the matter is to op referred to the public for decision, he would give it his sup-port.—(Applause.) He added that any legislation subsequent to, the referendum would have to protect the conscientious objector. Membt-rs of the deputation concurred in- Mr Lee's remarks as to meeting the the wishes of the conscientious objector.

A vote of thanks was accorded! Mr Lee, and! the deputation withdrew. Members of the deputation concurred in Mr Leo's remarks as to meeting the wishes of the conscientious objectors. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Lee and the deputation withdrew..