BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Southland Times, Issue 21836, 13 October 1932, Page 5

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

ENABLING BILL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DISCUSSION THE SECOND READING (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 12. At the conclusion of the speech by the mover, the Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill almost went to a vote without further ado on the second reading in the Legislative Council this afternoon. A division was on the point of being taken when the Hon. J. A. Hanan rose to tell the other side of the story. This set the ball rolling and when the adjournment was reached there were indications that there would be several more speakers to-morrow afternoon. The general opinion in the lobbies is that there is a possibility of the second reading being carried by three or four votes.

In moving the second reading the Hon. Sir James Allen said that the Bill was the work of the Biblc-in-Schools executive which represented eight churches. The vast majority of the people of New Zealand were behind the movement and they had the right to say that their children should be brought up with some knowledge of God and Christ.

Sir James said that the attitude of a considerable section of Roman Catholics had changed in recent years. The reason for this, as he understood it, was that the Roman Catholics had found that under the secular system a youth grew up a menace to the community and a menace to the Catholic religion itself. In 1930 the whole of the Catholic hierarchy signified its approval of the Bill, but last year some of the hierarchy wrote to the committee of the House expressing disapproval of the measure. However, Archbishop O’Shea still affirmed its principle. The Bill, continued Sir James, provided that each school day should open with religious observations and that religious instruction should be given in school hours. Teachers could secure exemption by notifying the chairman of the School Committee and the parent or guardian could secure exemption for a child by written notice to the head teacher. Any denomination could obtain general exemption for teachers and children by applying to the Minister of Education. The exempted teachers and children were required to spend the time in educational work. A limit of two hours a week was placed upon religious observances and instruction.

Sir James said that the Bill provided that no catechism or formulary distinctive of a particular denomination should be taught, nor any attempt made to attach children to a particular denomination. With the approval of the senior inspector and after consultation with the head teacher, the school committee could authorize persons outside the staff to assist in the event of an insufficiency of teachers. Provision was made that no additional expenditure beyond that which would have been payable in the absence of the act aimed at should be made out of the public funds. Advancing arguments in support _of the Bill Sir James referred to the increasing practice of opening conferences and public gatherings with prayer and stressed the value of the Bible as a means of teaching English literature.

The Hon. J. Hanan said that the real point at issue was not whether there should be religion or not. The council was asked to take a step which aimed a death blow at the secular system. There was no dispute between the creeds as to the value of religion, but there was a big difference of opinion as to the proper interpretation of the Bible. The State should be neutral on the question of religion. If it was not to be neutral what form of religion should it teach? One had to ask whether one was in favour of retaining the secular feature of education. Before this was settled one had no right to take the next step. He would like to see a referendum taken. The Hon. L. M. Isitt: Can you get a referendum? Mr Hanan: Alter the Bill in that direction and you will get my support. I am as strong a Protestant as any man in New Zealand, but I believe the proper place to teach religion is at a mother’s knee and in the Sunday School and church. The passing of the Bill will open the door to State grants to private schools. The Hon. D. Buddo said he would like to see the Bill confined solely to Bible reading in schools and when the measure was in committee he proposed to move accordingly. On the motion of Mr Isitt the debate on the second reading was adjourned until to-morrow afternoon.