The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1915. QUEENSLAND AND THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION QUESTION

New Zealand Tablet, 15 July 1915, Page 33

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1915. QUEENSLAND AND THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION QUESTION

——~ BBB —— OME of the favorite arguments and most confident assertions indulged in by Bible-in-schools leaders in the course of the late New Zealand campaign have been rudely knocked on the head by the result of the recent State elections in Queensland. It was urged upon the New Zealand public, it will be remembered, that Queensland furnished the conclusive example and crowning proof of the success of the New South Wales scheme of religious instruction, as advocated by our own New Zealand Bible in State Schools League. Queensland, we were told, had carefully watched the working of the scheme in New South Wales, and the reform had won its way by sheer merit into the sympathy and approval of the Queensland voters. Even at the time it was made, it was demonstrable that the statement was not in accordance with the facts; for the Bible-in-schools referendum was actually carried by only 26 per cent, of the possible voters, and this vote was secured only after a keen and carefully-organised agitation, aided by the inaction and somewhat easy-going policy of the opponents of the measure. It was further urged upon hesitant New Zealanders that the adoption of the New South Wales system would kill what is known as the Catholic agitation stone dead. In no country, it was said, in which this scheme had been established, had there been any movement in any serious quarter to secure or to accord State recognition of Catholic claims. As the League’s official card delicately put it: ‘This system . . . gives such satisfaction to the vast majority that the National System of Education cannot be disturbed.’ The statement was manifestly intended to win over the bigots to the new movement, and no doubt it duly played its part in that direction. * Both of these assertions have been completely falsified by the result of the Queensland elections of May last, and by the subsequent developments arising therefrom. The Government which, at the instigation of the Bible-in-Schools League, foisted the Bible-in-schools referendum proposal upon the country, met with a debacle unprecedented in the history of the dominions. That Government has literally been swept out of existence ; six of the Cabinet Ministers, including the Premier and the Minister of Education, lost their seats and only an insignificant remnant of the once powerful party have succeeded in securing the support of the electors. The Opposition (Labor) Party, which was in a minority of 24 in the previous Parliament, now numbers 50 in a House of 72; so that, with a more than 2 to 1 majority, it is absolute master of the situation. So much by way of evidence of the extent to which

the Bible-in-schools propaganda had * won its way ’ into the confidence of the country and so much, also, by way of warning to New Zealand politicians who are inclined to dally with the League’s dangerous and unjust proposal. The statement that wherever the League’s system was adopted the Catholic question immediately received its quietus has proved equally wide of the mark. A strong Labor Government, with the Hon-. T. J. Ryan at its head, has been formed ; and one of its first acts, according to our contemporary, the Brisbane Catholic Advocate, has been to announce its intention at an early date of authorising a referendum on the question of State aid to denominational schools. * It is much to be regretted that the referendum should ever have been adopted in Queensland as a means of settling this question, for it is obviously and unmistakably an unsatisfactory method of dealing with a matter in which serious issues of religion and conscience are involved. Catholic claims in regard to educational recognition are just, no matter what a count of heads may say : and the Bible-in-Schools League’s proposals, in which the rights of Catholics are violated or ignored, are so far wrong and unjust, no matter how many electors may record their votes in favor of them. Possibly the idea of the new Government in falling back upon the referendum method may be to work out a sort of poetic justice, in which the somewhat noisy and clamorous League may be hoist with its own petard. However pleasant a denouement that might be, we cannot but hope that the Government will choose rather the obviously better way ; take its stand upon sound principle; and frankly declare that, as the consciences of the non-Catholic elements of the community have been met by the adoption of tire Bible-in-Schools League’s scheme, the consciences of the Catholic taxpayers, as a matter of simple justice, must also be met in a manner consistent with their principles. That affords the only sure and lasting solution of the difficulty; and the Government is strong enough to be able, without hesitation, to give effect to it. In this way all parties will be given the kind and measure of religious instruction which they desire : a truly national system of education will be established ; and the Queensland Government will have an achievement to its credit of which it will have every reason to be proud. The Queensland situation is an extremely interesting one ; and the outcome will be keenly watched by the friends of religious education throughout the length and breadth of Australasia.