BILL BEFORE COUNCIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17909, 13 October 1932, Page 4

BILL BEFORE COUNCIL

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS SUPPORT OF EIGHT CHURCHES DIVINE VIEWS REVEALED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. In moving in the Legislative iOouneil the second reading of the Religious Instruction iu Schools Enabling Bill, Sir James Allen said the measure was sponsored by eight churches, which represented a vast majority of the people in New Zealand. These people had the right to say that their children should receive religious instruction in schools. Tho attitude of a considerable section of Roman Catholics towards tho bill had changed in recent years, as they realised that the secular education system was a menace not only to the community, but also to tho Catholic religion. The majority of the Catholic hierarchy was in favor of the measure. The bill did not eliminate the Nelson system, but it was maintained that the Nelson system had failed. In 1920 there were only 20,000 children out of 203,000 children receiving instruction under tho Nelson system. Tho Tfon. R, Masters: There are 58.800 to-day. Sir James Allen Said there was a grow ing desire for public'gatherings to be opened by prayer, and surely that principle should be extended to the school. Tho reading of the Bible was valuable from a literary, as well as an educational point of view, and there was no doubt that religious teaching was needed to combat the growing materialism. NOT THE STATE’S DUTY The Hon. J. A. Haiian said the hill aimed the death blow at the secular feature of the educational system. It was the duty of the Slate to remain neutral in matters of religion. The only fair way on the question as to whether they should retain tho secular system of education, was by a referendum. Although teachers who objected to give religious instructions were exempted, there was no doubt that they would be earmarked, and would suffer accordingly. The real place for religious instruction was at the mother’s knee, because sound religious teaching should bo given in a proper atmosphere. If the bill were passed, it would open the way for grants to private schools of all denominations, and the promoters of the bill should contemplate tho consequences of their actions. New Zealand children trained under the secular system were equal in intelligence and moral character to any other children in the world, and the conduct of the New Zealand soldiers had been a further vindication of tho success of the system. The lion. D. Buddo said he was in favor of the Bible being read in schools from a literary point of view, but lie considered that religious instruction would breed dissension among people. In the committee stage, bo would move to have the provisions of the hill narrowed down to provide for Bible reading onlv. Tho debate was adjourned and the Council rose.