BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 2

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

A CHURCH SUBSIDY. ORANGE LODGE OBJECTION. The Grand Orange Lodge has sent the following open letter to the president and. members of the Bible-in-Schobls League executive: — You have issued an appeal to the church people of the Dominion to support the Bill, to be introduced into tho House of Representatives by Mr. H. Holland, M.P., to secure the passing Of legislation enacting Bible-reading in the State .schools. You have, by arrangement with the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, reached an agreement under which the opposition to the Bible-in-schools which has hitherto been oifered by the Roman Catholic Church to legislation giving sanction to such reading, lias been withdrawn. The Parliamentary Committee of the Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand desires to point out that in all the public statements issued by your league you have failed to make clear that Hie price of the agreement with the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church is that they shall not be called upon to pay any proportion of the cost of such and that that agreement can only be fulfilled by the Parliament of this country agreeing to vote to the Roman Catholic Church a sum equal to qne-6cventh of the total cost of such Bible-reading in State schools. We desire to also point out to you that in fairness to the church people of the Dominion, as well as in perfect openness, this should have been made clear by you as it will involve bn the part of Parliament a cash vote to the Roman Catholic Church of at least £13,000 per annum; and should there be two hours of Bible-reading in each week the amount would be increased to £26,000 per annum. The Bill, as approved by ybur executive, therefore, is asking that the Parliament- of New Zealand, with the consent of tho people of the Dominion, shall agree to buy the approval of. the Roman Catholic Church to the Bible-in-schools programme for a cash payment; in other words, you have, agreed to pay this price for their assistance. We feel that we arc under an obligation to the church-people of New Zealand and the members of Parliament to direct their attention to this vital provision involving as it does an important principle and a heavy cash payment for the privilege of introducing Bible-reading into State schools. Moreover, this committee is of the opinion that should. Parliament enact this legislation in the terms of the Bill proposed that it will be regarded as the entrance of the wedge for the full claim of tho Roman Catholic Church to a grant of £250,000 per annum for State aid to their schools. In view of the urgency of this matter and of its far-reaching importance, this committee requests that your executive will reconsider the whole matter and remove the objectionable clause from the Bill.