RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21734, 27 August 1932, Page 13

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL.

At a recent meeting of the New Zealand Council of Religious Education, aty which Mr S. G. Macfarlane presided, attention was given to the agenda for the Religious Education Conference which it is proposed to hold in Wellington from September 6 to September 8, inclusive, when the matters to be discussed will be organisation and teacher training. The Presbyterian, Anglican, and Methodist representatives were present. ■ ■ V 3 -' The chairman reported that there had been a meeting of delegates going to the" conference (Messrs J. Farquharson, R. G. M'Dowall, the secretary, Miss Macfie, and himself) to consider a proposal from the New Zealand secretary (Mr E. P. Blamires) that the Dunedin branch should be responsible for bringing forward at the conference an immediate; scheme of organisation for New Zealand. They had dealt very fully with this question, and also with the matters that should be undertaken by the New Zealand Council. , The hope was expressed that some day a director of religious education for New Zealand of equal status with that of the director of general education would be ; appointed. Working with the director would be the New Zealand Council with branches as at present in the centres and, either sub-branches or corresponding members in the smaller towns so that the work might be linked up throughout, New Zealand. Regarding the work of the immediate future, the sub-committee recommended the following:—(1) Religious instruction in the State schools; (2) teacher training and preparation; (3) adult education;- (4) leadership, training. The report was received and fully discussed, and it was considered that the council should endeavour to further these aims. Mr M'Dowall’s motion that, in nddi-a t tion to the present part-time secretary in 3 Wellington, there should be in the local branches ■ local organising secretaries,' where possible, was carried. Instead of having bi-annual conferences , it was agreed that an endeavour should 3 be made to have branches represented , at the annual meeting of the New Zea-' land Council when all matters relative '■ to the work could be discussed. > Regarding organisation proposals, it was agreed that the areas of branches < should be defined. The Finance Committee reported that •*, the 1931 liabilities had been met and that there was now a small balance In hand. The collector was carrying on Tils work and at the next meeting consideration of finance would be made.