BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 3 August 1928, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

-• BILL THROWN OUT. Crowded galleries, in whieh there was a plentiful sprinkling of clerical collars, signiiied public interest in the religion in schools question, opened up in the House of .Representatives by the reappearance of the Religious Lx cruises in Schools Bill, which last, year was beaten by live votes. Mr. H. Holland (Christchurch North) undeterred by this defeat, introduced the Bill again this session, and in moving'the second reading, said that the majority of school teachers favoured religious teaching in schools. A plebiscite of parents of children attending the State schools had been taken since last session with remarkable results, 81 per cent, of the parents beingin favour. Figures for the separate ■districts wore:—Otago, SO; Southland, 82.5; Wellington, 81; TSaranaki, 72.44; Auckland, 80.71; Christchurch, 80.72. The‘difference between the provisions of his Bill and the Nelson system was that the latter meant the Bible out of ..schools, while this Bill meant the Bible in schools.

Speaking- with much fervour, Mr. Holland appealed to members,-if they felt any doubt, to give the children the benefit of it. "I refuse to believe,” he- said, ‘‘that those who introduced New Zealand's education system in .1877 meant to exclude the Bible altogether from the schools.” Mr. H. E. Holland vehemently attacked Canon James of Auckland for his statement that the Labpur Party had sold itself to the Roman Catholic Church. It was regrettable that any man standing for religious principles should make deliberate falsehoods tc support a weak case. ‘‘lf this Bill is carried,” said Mr. Holland, ‘ ‘ sectarianism will be rife in New Zealand. I was at school in New South Wales when this system was working there, and my experience was that the boys started sectarian lights as soon as they got into the playground. If the church is unable to reach the children in the homes and churches without going into the schools, then the failure lies with the church itself. ’ ’

On a division being taken the second reading was rejected by 31 votes to 28.