BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13516, 20 October 1914, Page 5

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

(per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, thi« day

The Education Committee -, continued taking evidence to-day on the .■* Bible m Schools question. Tho cross-examination of -the Rev. W. A. Keay ■■ was -continued by the^Rev. D. C. Bates, Professor Hunter", and Canon Garland.

■'"' The . Rev. John Paterson, Presbyterian minister, .of St. Paul's Church;,'said /he was -educated m New South: Wales. ' In Broken Hilhhe was vice-president of ,the parents' association, und m Sydney was secretary of the board of public : . examination, and was well m touch with 1 the New South Wales system. -, He h:id never met or heard a single teacher who considered that the "system was an injury to his conscience, nor had he known a teacher refuse to give Bible lessons. He never knew boys' parents refusing to allow them to attend religious classes, except Jews, and he had never heard of any sectarian strife. He had always been most cordially welcomed by masters and children. The matter was quite settled m New South Wales. It was never mentioned at elections. All agreed that it was tho best solution of religious instruction under the existing conditions. The system might not be. ideal, but it was a working compromise, capable of meeting the needs and objections of the mass of those concerned. He was not aware that teachers of New South .Wales cannot express religious opinions at all. They were forbidden to offend others' religious convictions.