BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10138, 26 August 1904, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIEI^ (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last nigbt A deputation representing diverse crmls waited upon Mr Seddon to-night to protest against Bible reading m State schools. Those present differed widely oai political, ecclesiastical, aud theological questions, but they all considered the. proposals made by the Bible m Schools Conference objectionable. Some, if not all of them, objected to paying for religious instruction from taxation imposed oil all classes of the people. They appreciated the injustice to teachers, who were trained specially for the State schools. They were convinced tliat tlie text book was essentially a religious book and tluit the question proposed by the conference was a religion? question that the civil Government had not jurisdiction to deal with. Mr Seddon, m the course of his reply, questioned very muoh whether any other subject would have brought such a diverse assembly together. It would be inidemocratic to refuse the people the opportunity under fixed and fair conditions of expressing their -opinion. The House of Representatives had more- than once passed the Referendum Bill, well knowing that this was one of the questions that might be submitted under it. He thought the Bill would paw again by a la.rge majority, and if it passed the Upper House, resolutions would have to be passed as to what questions should be put. Both Houses would insist tluit there should be no doubt as to what the people should be required to vote upon. It was clearly a* matter for the people- to decide. He did not think, however, that public moneys should be spent m printing the* text book for circulation; it would be the duty of those who were asking tluit the question be submitted to see that information was placed m the hands of every elector. He was 1 sorry to see that- so little* was known about the text book except within .1. given circle. There had been an ominous silence on the part of the preiss m respect to Bible-read-ing m schools. It was not for him to say what it 'meant. The Legislative Council would probably recognise that the right of the people to a direct vote on the-subject--should not be kept from them. Personally, ho believed m every child m the country being taught religion. The Rev. H" Van Stavern : In school? Mr Seddon: I. have not said m school. Tliere are places, of course, and there are those whose duty it is. I feel myself, and do not hesitate to sty, that those whose duty it is 'to teach religion and morality have had opportunities foryesirs and liave failed to embrace them, and a great effort is being made now to get someone else to do it.