RELIGIOUS EXERCISES BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 27

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES BILL.

MOVER NO" DISAPPOINTED.

WELLINGTON, August 2'. Mr H. Holland (Christchurch North) | he is more, than pleased with the rer.>ult of the voting for the second reading of his Bill. He says that he and his supporters never expected the Bill to be' passed. Last year the Bil was defeated by 36 votes to 31, but last night the real position was better than the vote revealed, inasmuch as 29 members really voted for the Bill and 31 against it, the vote of Mr Sykes not having been recorded.

“ I am totally at a loss to account for Mr Glenn,” said Mr Holland. “ Something important must have happened to take him away in a hurry Had he been present the voting would have been 30 for the Bill and 31 against, because he has always supported us in the past. Of course, it was a very small House. Out of 80 members three have gone to Canada and Mr G. J. Anderson.. Sir Joseph Ward, and Messrs' T. M. Wilford, and H. L.. Tapley have not yet returned from England.

“ There is no doubt that the Bill will come up again,” continued Mr Holland, whether lam in Parliament or not It will be like Mr Sidey’s Bill.. It will come up again and again until it is on the Statute Book. I have not the slightest doubt about that.” NON-SECTARIAN INSTRUCTION. WELLINGTON, August 2. A further effort for the passage of legislation this session providing a measure of religious instruction in the schools is being made in the Legislative “Council in a Bill which was introduced and read a first time this afternoon. The Bill is sponsored by Mr G. M. Thomson, and the principal object is to provide for a system of non-sectarian religious instructiou in schools.

The measure suggests the insertion of the following clauses in the Amending Act of 1914: — (a) With a view to affording instruction by qualified persons approved by the Minister, half an hour on one or two school days in each week may be set apart in the morning or afternoon as the case may be; (b) during the time so set apart no secular instruction; shall be given to children not attending the classes for religious instruction; (e) no child shall be required to attend for religious instruction, unless his parents or guardians have signified in writing their willingness to allow such child to receive such instruction; (d) no State school teacher shall be required to give religious instruction during the time set apart for this, but he will see that order and discipline are preserved in the classrooms and school grounds. It is proposed thfit the Bill shall operate as from January 1, 1929.