BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16475, 20 October 1927, Page 11

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

CONCLUSION OF EVIDENCE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The filial sitting of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives to hear evidence in regard to the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill was held to-day, when Air. A. E. Atkinson continued his evidence-from yesterday, opposing Ihe measure, 'flic witness said benevolence was the ultimate goal of all religions. The misunderstanding of religious strife appearing in all Air. Isitl said were the strongest argument' againsl his Bill, and his attitude towards Roman Catholics showed what the logical consequences of iiis creed, as shown in the Bill, would be—“We have done our best: with those heretics, and they must go to the stake.” That, was his attitude. Though boiling oil was out of fashion nowadays, to aceopt Ihe logic of the Hill was to accept the logic of oppression and persecution. He asked why Ihe church should not lake over the instruction of children on a. matter which was essentially the church’s business. This was not a controversy in which lie could feel proud of his Protest autism. It would be a gross injustice to ask Roman Catholics to pay, in addition to their own expenditure, any proportion of the cost of education of Protest aul child ren.

In reply to .Mr. H. At more 'he said he did not believe in the majority ruling in cases of conscience.

The Jewish Rabbi, Dr. Van Stavem, gave evidence that lie was opposed to the Bill, but not to the Nelson system. The evidence of the Director of Education, Air. T. B. Strong, will he taken this afternoon.