MR STATHAM ON BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16242, 27 November 1914, Page 8

MR STATHAM ON BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Sir,—ln your leader on Mr Statham's address at Mornington on Wednesday you say that "upon tho subject of Bible in, schools Mr Statham spoke with no uncertain sound." Mr Statham seemed to speak with very uncertain sound. Ho seemed to say one thing in the course of his address, and some contradictory things when he was answering questions. For example, he was asked the following question: —" If Mr Stathaift objects to the Bible in the common schools, why does he not object to the Bible in our high schools? Why should the working man's child not read the Bible in its school while tho child of the well-to-do can read the Bible in its school?" Mr Statham's answer, unless ho was very seriously misunderstood, was this:—"He was quito in favour of Bible reading and prayer being introduced into our primary schools" —that is to say, he favoured more religion being introduced into our school syllabus than was proposed by the league. If he wants to put the child of the working man in the same position as tho child of the middle or upper class, Mr Statham must seek to introduce a Bill amending the Education Act. Will Mr Statham do so? Strange to 6ay that the candidate who has no objection to Bible reading and prayer in the schools should object to the whole body of electors from the Bluff to the North Capo having the privilege of saying at the ballot-box whether they wi6h or they do not wish to have Bible reading in schools! —I am, etc., Bible in Schools. Dunedin, November 26.