LABOUR AGAINST REFERENDUM. CHILDREN SUFFER.

White Ribbon, Volume 30, Issue 365, 18 November 1925, Page 9

LABOUR AGAINST REFERENDUM. CHILDREN SUFFER.

T ie Editor, —Madam, The New Zealand Laljour Party candidates have pronounced against a vote of the people being taken on the Bible in Schools question; this a tion proves that they do not represent true democracy in New Zealand. because they are afraid to trust the people. Madam, the home of the Referend ini in Switzerland, and in 1882 that country took a Referendum on the proposal to remove religious instruction from tiie schools, but the proposal was rejected, ('atholics and Protestants united to vote “No,” the minority being German Radicals, Freethinkers and Socialists. In South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, the question of Bible reading in schools was submitted to a Referendum. This year, one of the Baltic States decided the question of religious instruction in schools by a vote of the people. In 1901. 1903 and 1904 the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, the leader of the Liberal Party in New Zea1, nd, introduced a General Referendum Bill, which would include the Bible in Schools question. In 1905 a Bible in Schools PleI scite Bill was also introduced by Mr T. R. Sidey, M.P. What is the matter with the Labour Party when it wishes, not only to prohibit, as in Russia, the 1 ible in the schools, but it also (lores to prohibit the people from having a vote on same? It is a sign of weakness, and also igorance of the Referendum principles for the Labour Party to take refuge I •hind the excuse that a vote cannot he taken on a religious question. Vhat will Bible reading in schools mean? It means letting the children now' it is wrong to steal, to lie, to ishonour the Sabbath ,and right to onour their parents, to love man-

ind, to cai* 1 for the sick, fetal the ungry and clothe naked; since that the Bible religion, I say w r e want little of it, as it is true Socialism. In the United States of America nder the Initiative, Referendum and

Recalls Acts, a vote may be taken on Bible rt (ding in schools. Trusting voters will spurn candidates who are afraid to allow the people :\ vote on Bible in Schools, which would mean much for the children’s moral welfare. The Labour Party may have my name. Yours truly, A NEW ZEALANDER.