THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19438, 26 October 1925, Page 6

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

(To the Editor). Sir,—Parents should consider we,, tho following before they record their votes at the general election next month. The position is that in the high schools and colleges in New Zea land (which are attended mainly by the children of the prosperous classes the Bible is read daily, without, causing strife; but tho present Liberal and

Labour candidates for Parliament are dead against the Children of the pub lie schools being allowed to read Ih< Bible in the schools; in fact, so bitter are tho members of the Labour ami Liberal (now National) Parties against the Bible lessons that they sat up all night, in the House once last session and defeated a Bill (by six votes only which would have allowed parts of tinBible to be. read in schools v.ithn-il comment except the meaning of diffi cult words to bo explained. It seems a disgrace to us that a British colony to allow the English Bible, one of the heritages of tho British race, the fount of pure English, ami which fixes the standard of our conduct. t< be banned form tho schools. The chief leaders in Parliament against tb< Bible in the workers’ schools are men from abroad and not New Zealanders; and the Labour Partv have the audacity to say that they would not allow a vote on the question, yet other coun trios have taken votes on the question of Bible in schools with success. 1' is a hardship on the workers, as they cannot afford to send their children to private schools where Bible reading prevails. Tho workers want the Bible, as votes taken in the workers' suburbs show that 75 per cent, favour the Bible in tho schools. This shows how out of date and unpopular is the ‘‘secular” platform of the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party, which prevents the use of the Bible in our schools. I am amazed at the apathy of the bulk of the clergy on this, their question. Trusting all parents will vote only' for candidates who favour the children being allowed to receive some knowledge of tho Bible during their school life hnd that they will turn down ‘‘secularist” candidates.—l am, etc., A NEW ZEALANDER. Wellington, October 22, 1925.