BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

New Zealand Tablet, 3 December 1914, Page 27

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

THE ELECTIONS AND THE REFERENDUM - ISSUE.

CANDIDATES’ .REPLIES TO CATHOLIC FEDERATION QUESTIONS.

As intimated in our last issue, a question was sent out by the Dominion Executive to all the branches of the Catholic Federation to be used for the purpose of ascertaining the views of Parliamentary candidates on the Referendum proposal of the Bible-in-Schools League. The question was in this form :

‘ If elected, even though favoring the referendum principle, will the candidate vote against any proposal to make it possible for a referendum to be taken on any matter which may in any way affect matters of religion or conscience ?’

A number of answers have been received, and these are printed herewith. ; Where additional questions have been asked, they are,' with the answers to them, printed in full but in all other cases the replies are to be taken as answers to the question above set forth. ’ The attitude of present members whose replies do not appear hereunder may be-gathered from their place on the division list given on page 17 of this issue, and in the absence of formal answers we have, for the benefit of readers, specially noted the action of members on that occasion. After the appended candidates’ names the letter ‘ G.’ signifies Ministerial candidate, ‘Lib.’ Liberal, ‘O/ Opposition, ‘l.’ Independent, ‘Lab.’ Labor, and ‘ S.D-’ Social Democrat.

NORTH ISLAND BAY OF ISLANDS. V. H. Reed (G.). — not vote in the discussion in the House on the Education Committee’s report on the Bible-in-schools proposals.' x , s MARSDEN. F. Mander (G.). —Voted in favor of the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. KAIPARA. G. Coates (G.).Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. s WAITEMATA. A. Harris (G.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. GREY LYNN. J. Payne (Lab.) : ‘ I will always vote against any Bill or measure which has for its object the placing of a referendum before the people on the issue of Bibleteaching or reading in our State schools.’ Geo. Fowlds (O.) : ‘I am in favor of the referendum principle but would vote against any proposal to bring questions of religion within the scope of a Referendum Bill,’ • > AUCKLAND CENTRAL. A. E. Glover (O.) : ‘I will vote against it.’ M. J. Savage (S.D.) : ‘ Being of opinion that matters of religion or conscience are 'private matters, and should be treated as such, my answer is an unconditional yes.’ AUCKLAND EAST. A. M. Myers (O.) : ‘ . . . I have made it clear at my meetings that I am, opposed to a referendum on the proposals of the Bible-in-Schools League.’ . AUCKLAND WEST. J. H. Bradney (G.): ‘Will vote against the referendum on any question; if made a party matter will vote against my party.’ PARNELL. J. S. Dickson (G.). — in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. MANUKAU. Hon. F. W. Lang (G.). — Speaker of the House, Mr. Lang did not vote in the discussion on the Education Committee’s report. .

EDEN. .*■ J. Bollard, 1 who is not standing for re-election, voted in favor of the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. FRANKLIN. Hon. W. F. Massey (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. RAGLAN. ' R. F. Bollard (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. WAIKATO. J. A. Young (G.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. TAUMARUNUI. C. K. Wilson (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. TAURANGA. . Hon. W. H. Herries (G.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. OHINEMURI. H. Poland (O.). —When questioned on public platform Mr. Poland emphatically declared himself against Bible in schools during school hours, and stated that he would continue to vote against it. . Rev. J. Clark (G.). —In favor of Bible in schools and referendum. THAMES. T. W. Rhodes (G.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. BAY OF PLENTY. W. D. S. MacDonald (O.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. GISBORNE. Sir Jas. Carroll (O.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. HAWKE’S BAY. Dr. McNab (O.) : ‘I am opposed to the referendum where it is proposed the Bible should be read in State schools under the direction of the teacher or any State officer. No objection to teaching being carried out by ministers outside school hours.’ NAPIER. J. V. Brown (O.).Did not vote in the House in the division on the Education Committee’s report. WAIPAWA. G. Hunter (G). —Personally opposed to scheme, but favor referendum on general principle. A. E. dull (O.) c ‘Oppose referendum.’ PAHIATUA. J. H. Escott (G.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. ■ MASTERTON. ' G. R. Sykes (G.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. W AIR ARAB A. Sir W. C. Buchanan (G.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. EGMONT. C. A. Wilkinson (G.).Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. STRATFORD. , J. B. Hine (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. TARANAKI. 11. J. H. Okey (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. PATEA. " G. V. Pearce (G.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. WANGANUI. ‘ W. A. Veitch (O.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. ; • WAIMARINO. - R. W. Smith —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. OROUA.

D. H. Guthrie (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House.

RANGITIKEI. E. Newman (G.) : ‘I have already expressed myself as being in favor of .the referendum on the Bible-in-schools question, but when the Bill comes before Parliament I shall do my best to provide that the opinions of the minority are sufficiently protected.’ PALMERSTON. J. Nash (G.) : ‘I am opposed to the referendum, and will not support it. If referendum granted would vote against any proposal affecting matters of religion or conscience.’ - D. Buick (G.).Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House, J. Thorn (S.D.) : ‘Against a referendum on Bible-in-schools issue. Will oppose attempt to submit matters affecting religion or conscience to a referendum.’ E. H. Crabb (O.). —Is in favor of a referendum, on the question. OTAKI. J. Robertson (S.D.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. Answer to question, yes. HUTT. T. M. Wilford (O.). —Voted against Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. WELLINGTON NORTH. 11. Holland (S.D.) : ‘ Yes—the platform of the Social Democratic requires that L shall so vote.’ W. IT. Turnbull (O.) : ‘ Yes. I should certainly vote against any proposal to make it possible for a referendum to be taken on any matter which may affect religion or conscience.’ Hon. ■A. L. Herdman (G.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. -• WELLINGTON CENTRAL. R. Fletcher (O.) : ‘ I do not favor the referendum principle on this question, and would- therefore vote against any such proposal.’ Hon. F. M. B. Fisher,(G.). —Did not vole in the division on the Education Committee’s report. WELLINGTON EAST. Dr. A. K. Newman (G.). —Voted in favor of the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. WELLINGTON SOUTH. A. H. Hindmarsh (Lab.). —Voted . against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. WELLINGTON SUBURBS AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS. R. A. Wright (G.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. F. T. Moore (Lab.) ‘Yes.’ SOUTH ISLAND NELSON. H. Atmore (O.).Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. WAIRAU. R. McCallum (O.).Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. Answer to question; ‘Yes, certainly; with all my heart.’ MOTUEKA. Hon. R. McKenzie (O.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. DULLER. J. Colvin (0.).—-Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. GREY. P. C. Webb (S.D.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. H. L. Michel (G.). — in favor of the referendum on the Bible-in-schools proposals. WESTLAND. T. E. Y. Seddon (O.). Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. • . HURUNUI G. W. Forbes (O.).Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. Answer to question: Will oppose referendum.’

KAIAPOI. . ' . Hon. D. Buddo (O.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. CHRISTCHURCH NORTH. L. M. Isitt (O.).Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. CHRISTCHURCH ' EAST. Dr. Henry J. Thacker (O.) : ‘ Yes.’ CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH. H. G. E1I.(0.).-Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. ■- LYTTELTON. J. McCombs (S.D.). —Did not vote in the division on the Education Committee’s report. RICCARTON. G. Witty (O.). —Voted against ttie Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. AVON. G. W. Russell (O.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. ' , D. G. Sullivan (S.D.) : ‘ I support the recommendations of the Education Committee of the House. . . I think that will meet your views.’ ELLESMERE. Hon. R. H. Rhodes (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. SELWYN. W. J. Dickie (O.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. , ASHBURTON. W. Nosworthy- (G.). —Voted in favor of Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. i W. S. Maslin(O-). Will vote against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. TEMUKA. C. E. Kerr (G.). —Will vote against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. J. Talbot (0.).Wi1l vote against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. TIMARU. J. Craigie (O.). —The secretary Timaru branch of the Catholic Federation writes that Mr. Craigie’s replies to Federation questions were not satisfactory. , F. H. Smith (G.). —At his meeting on Tuesday night Mr. F. IT. Smith replied to a number of questions relating to education. These had all been handed to him in typewritten form and they were asked officially by the Timaru branch of the Catholic Federation. Details of the questions and replies, taken from the Timaru Post, are as follows; I. Are you in favor of allowing the Government to set up as a teacher of religion, by drawing up and teaching (at the cost of all sections of the community) a scheme of Bible lessons and prayers admittedly suited for only one section of the community. Answer—2. Do you think it fair that teachers should be compelled (without the option of a conscience clause, and under penalty of dismissal), to administer'Government Bible lessons (or a State religion), which they may or may not believe, and to which the vast majority of the teachers have declared themselves conscientiously opposed ? AnswerNo, it is not fair. 3. If one section of the people has its views of the Bible or religion taught by State officials at State cost, have not all other sections of the people an equal right to have their views of the Bible and religion taught by State officials at State cost. Answer-Yes. 4. Are you in favor of depriving Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Unitarian, and other objecting taxpayers of the liberty of conscience they now enjoy, and of compelling them to pay for Government Biblical lessons (or a State’ religion), 'to which they conscientiously object, and from which they can derive no advantage ? Answer No.

5. Will you oppose a referendum having . for its object to grant one section of the people a kind of endowed State Biblical or religious teaching suited to them, while all other sections of the people are refusedan endowed Biblical or religious teaching which they can accept? Answer—Yes. 6. Do you hold that the Bible-in-Schools League ought to have consulted the many other sections of the people interested before approaching Parliament or the politicians on what they called their scheme of religious instructions in public schools? Answer—Yes. Are you in favor of all schools under Government inspection being supplied with the School Journal and other publications issued gratis by the Education Department? Answer—Yes. Are you in favor of all schools under Government inspection being given the same grant per capita for classes in (a) swimming, (b) agriculture, (c) the same per capita grant for incidental school expenses, (d) and the same free medical inspection ? Answers —(a) Yes. (b) Yes. (c) No. People who run private schools should pay their own incidental expenses. Are you in favor of all winners of free places in secondary schools being allowed to pursue their studies in any secondary school approved by the Minister of Education, as is now granted in the new Education Bill to winners of scholarships ? Answer—Yes. If a boy wins a scholarship from, say, the Timaru Main School, he should be allowed, if he desires, to attend St. Patrick’s College in Wellington or any other secondary school of which the Minister cap properly approve. - WAITAKI, Norton Francis (G.). —Q. ; ‘ Do you favor submitting Bible-in-Schools League policy to a referendum V A.: ‘ Am pledged to submit this very controversial question to a referendum.’ CAM ABU. E. P. Lee (G.). —Did not vote on the division, on the Education Committee’s report. OTAGO CENTRAL. R. Scott (G.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. ' DUNEDIN NORTH. G. M. Thomson (G.). — am not quite sure how far your question goes. If it means —Will I do anything which will violate the conscience of either teachers or children? —then I say No emphatically; or rather as you put— I vote against any proposal for a referendum to be taken on such matters?—Yes. My attitude towards the Referendum Bill was that I would vote for the second reading, but would strongly oppose two different issues, being placed together as one question. A. Walker (O. Lab.). —In answer to yours t of yesterday’s date, I have to say that I am opposed to granting a referendum on any matter which may in any way affect matters of religion or conscience, and should I be returned as a member of Parliament I shall fearlessly record my vote against any proposal having for its object the obtaining of a referendum on any question of the kind. DUNEDIN WEST. J. T. Johnson (O.). —I am in favor of the referendum on all questions excepting those which seek to subject an unwilling minority to the religious and conscientious beliefs of others. W. Downie Stewart (G.).- —Replying to yours of 23rd instant in which, you ask the question whether if elected even though favoring the referendum principle I will vote against any proposal to make it possible for a referendum to be taken on any matter which may in any way affect matters of religion or conscience, my answer is i that I will vote against any proposal which does not make adequate provision for conscientious objectors. The Bible-in- party’s platform affects matters of religion, and. am prepared to grant a referendum on this, subject to proper safeguards as to

conscience, and subject to the question being framed by Parliament in such a way as to enable a clear expression of the electors’ opinion. As I have previously stated on the platform, in order to enable this to be done it is necessary that the Bible-in-Schools Party’s question should be re-framed so as to separately state the issues involved in it. I think this will make clear to you my position both on the particular question now before the electors and the general position stated in your question. ' DUNEDIN CENTRAL. ' J. W. Munro (O. Lab.). —I take pleasure in answering your council that my pledge to the Labor Representation' Committee pledges me to oppose the referendum on all matters pertaining to religion or conscience, especially as proposed by the Bible-in-Schools League; and our political platform is emphatic on this particular question. C. E. Statham (G.). —In reply to your circular letter of 23rd inst., I have no hesitation in saying that I will vote against any proposal to make it possible for a referendum to be taken on any matter which may in any way affect matters of religion. You will see from my utterances upon the Bible-in-schools question exactly where I stand in this matter. In your question you also refer to matters of conscience. This is a much wider term. I -do not, know how far-reaching the expression might be, so that I do not feel that I could give you a definite answer to that portion of your question as it stands. I should be glad, however, if you could give me any illustrations to guide me. I may mention, for example, that a referendum on the licensing question may be said to be a matter of conscience, although it is not a matter of religion. DUNEDIN SOUTH. T. IT. Dalton (G.). —Firstly, I must say I am in favor of the referendum on the Bible in schools. At the same time I believe in a man’s conscience and religion being safeguarded. T. K. Sidey (O.). —Since I have been in politics I have supported a referendum on the Bible-in-schools question. PORT CHALMERS. W. D. Mason (0.). —1 am totally opposed to any form of referendum affecting the religious beliefs of the people. I have always resisted' and always will resist any attempt to interfere by vote or otherwise with the religious beliefs of the people. BRUCE. . Hon. J. Allen (G.). —Voted in favor of the division on the Education Committee’s report. CLUTHA. ' A. S. Malcolm (G.).Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the-House. J. E. Jenkinson (0.). —I am against referendum and doubly against referendum on any religious matter or conscientious matter. WAKATIPU. Hon. W. Fraser (G.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. MATAURA, G. J. Anderson (G.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. , W. G. Mehaffey (O.). —I have to state that I cannot but regard the referendum as an effective means of making a direct appeal to the people, but I would not have it used on matters which affect religion and .X. conscience. WALLACE. J. C. Thompson (0.). — against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. ’ . A. W. Rodger (G). In regard to the Bible-in-schools question, he had perhaps curious ideas, but he thought they were right.' He recognised his responsibilities to his family, and he thought that he and his wife ought to be responsible for their well-being. They and their Sunday school teachers, ought to be entrusted with that. He tried to' take a broad-minded view of the question, however, and therefore he was in favor of a referendum on the question. Western Star.

INVERCARGILL. '• J. A. Hanan (O.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. J. F. Lillicrap (G.). As I am in favor of a referendum being taken on the question of the Bible in schools, my answer to your question must be in the negative. - - Mr. Lillicrap is the selected t candidate of the League. . AWARUA Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward (O.). —Voted against the Bible-in-schools proposals in the House. J. R. Hamilton (G.). —Your letter to hand containing question, , and in. reply I wish to state I am prepared to answer any questions from the public platform in Awarua, and will be pleased to answer your Federation by the above means.