BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13428, 10 July 1914, Page 3

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Premier informed an Anglican Synod deputation this morning that the Referendum Bill on Bible reading Avould not m any way bo treated as a party question. •He knew members of the Government Avho, m accordance- with their convictions, would vote against; Mr Allen's proposal. He stated that the second reading of the Bill would probably be taken at the beginning of next week. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. To-day the members of the Anglican Synod interviewed the Premier regarding the Bible m schools referendum. The deputation expressed the hope that the^ Bill would go through all stages during the present session. They were not asking members of Parliament to ex- 1 press any opinion upon the merits or demerits of the system of religious instruction. They merely asked for machinery by which the true will of j the electors might be taken. Mr Massey, m reply, said the Bill had been placed m the Hon. J. Allen's hands, and would be submitted to the House m the next few days. It was not intended to be a party question. There were differences of opinion on the part of members m regard to the BUI and the proposal. Personally, added Mr Massey, "I do not prebend to be a bit •better man than the average citizen, but I have long been of opinion that it was a great pity representatives of Christian sects were not able to join m arranging a scheme by which the rising generation m the schools might have Bible knoAvledge imparbed wibhoub a sectarian element being introduced. I am sorry to say we have not reached that stage yet;" In all probability, he concluded, the Bill would be proceeded with next week, and there would be no .attempt to mix up the prbposal -with ordinary politics. ■ At to-day's sitting of the conference convened by the Federation of Labor, a motion was passed against any proposal to submit the question of Bible m schools to a referendum, as it "regards religious .beliefs as a subject outside the control of any majority." It was decided that Messrs Rosser (Auckland) and H. Hunter (Christchurch) should represent the conference on a deputation to the Premier from the National Schools Defence Leagtue upon the Bible m schools question.