THE BIBLE=IN=SCHOOLS QUESTION

New Zealand Tablet, 10 December 1914, Page 29

THE BIBLE=IN=SCHOOLS QUESTION

CANDIDATES AND THE REFERENDUM ISSUE.

FURTHER ANSWERS. For purposes of reference, and to make our statement of the attitude of candidates quite complete, we append one or two answers which reached us. too late for insertion in our last issue. AWARTJA. J. R. Hamilton (G.). —In connection with the Bible-in-Schools he believed the people should have the right to Vote on the subject, and he would support the Referendum. (Speech at Winton, Southland ' Times, December 4.) W AIR AH. J. Duncan (G.). —The position he took up in regard to this question was that the people ought to be given the opportunity of saying whether the Bible should be read in the schools or not. He believed, as Mr. Seddon did when he introduced his Referendum Bill, that the people should be trusted. Personally he would sooner see the reading of the Bible done in the homes than in the State schools: (Speech at Blenheim, Marlborough Express, December 1.) BAY OF PLENTY. W. S. Macdonald (O.). —Replied to the Federation expressing himself as strongly opposed to Bible-in-Schools League’s proposals. Mr. Williams (G.). —-'The candidate made it clear that he did not believe in compulsion of any kind in religious matters. He did not want anyone else’s religion shoved down ,his throat, and he took it that every man felt the same. If elected he would oppose the introduction of any Bill in this direction.