BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 27 May 1914, Page 12

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

STATEMENT BY CANON GARLAND

(rEOM A CORBESroXDEJfT.} WELLINGTON, May 26. After hearing from the chief organiser of the Biblo-in-State-Schools League a full statement showing the wide -support which has been received for tho demand for a referendum on tho League's proposals, the Central Committee and officers of the Wellington Provincial Women's League passed a resolution: ''That this committee expresses surprise that as yet the Government has not acceded to the request made by the highest courts of the Church of England, the Presbyterian Church, tho Methodist Church, and tho Salvati'jj Army, endorsed so generally by thou- constituencies, and _u —-orted b- tho individual request of 140,000 electors, asking lor nothing more than tho referendum. This committee draws attention to statements made by tho Leaguer's opponents claiming the Prime Minister and his Cabinet as in sympathy with them, and cmuhasises that ttio Leafrue is not asking tho Government or Parliament to decide upon tho merits of tho League's proposals, or to say whether they are rigdt or wrong, but is asking the Government to provido machinery which will allow tho people to directly decide that question for themselves at tho ballot-box." Canon Garland nointed out that though the Bible-in-State-Schools League, as at present constituted, has been actively at work only about ton months, vet it is a successor to similar movements for tho restoration of religious iustruction to the Stat© school system, which have been continuous sinco 1877. The churches, which speak for 7-1 per cent, of the population, havo had their action endorsed by their lower courts, synods, presbyteries, kirk sessions, parishes, and circuits. In addition, individual electors to tho number of 140,000 have becomo members of the League by signing a request for a referendum to bo taken on the League's proposals. Tho (suggestion mado by the League's opponents that some thousands of people who signed tho request did not know what they were doing, was such a reflection on tho intelligence of tho electors that on the face of things it was incredible. This charge against tho intelligence of New Zealanders, mado by the opponents of the League, was bolstered up by the statement that tho League's canvassers wero guilty of misrepresentation. As most of are women, who, out of little time they havo to spare from their housohold and other duties, havo been using their time and money for what they believo to bo the good of their country, this charge is equally incredible. The League is quite prepared to cancel tho membership of any person who. having previously signed a card, signifies in writing his desire to withdraw from membership, and without making any reflection, will consider any such person as entitled to change his opinion. The suggestion, however, has only emphasised tho advisability of a referendum, because, however much the actual number of individuals may be disputed, it is not a matter of doubt that tho demand for a referendum is deeply seated and very widespread, and that the community is divided on tho subject. There is only one way to ascertain the mind of the people, and that is in the polling booths, under legal safeguards, where canvassers on either side do not interfere with the voters. Indeed, the fact that tho opponents of the League havo appealed 6o vehemently to the people through Press, platform, and pulpit, is a recognition of the principle that; the people aro entitled to settle the question. This, Canon Garland said, was the League's position, except that, differing from its opponents on this point,.it claimed that the question cannot be settled by screeds in newspapers, or sermons in pulpits, but by the vote of tho people who own and support the schools, given directly afc tho ballot-box. A refusal to grant the referendum was an acceptance of that theological view which holds that religious matters aro to be settled only by ecclesiastics, and that people are not competent to decide themselves. If the League's opponents succeeded • iri preventing a roferendnm being taken they would have persuaded Parliament to become responsible for bringing the question into 6uch prominence that, in the judgment of the League, it would outweigh political party questions, and even overshadow other questions. Canon Garland 6aid that he had had many years' experience of this and other movements, but never before had he come in contact with any movement where such persistency and intensity of purpose had been shown. That the League could in such a short time rally the majority of Christian congregations, acquire an individual membership of 140,000, obtain the resolutions of all sorts of organisations from North to South, and have in active work 465 committees, wero some reasons upon which he based his opinion. Ho further found a number of people who wero. ready to place this matter before any political party issue. These were increasing daily, as was evidenced by written pledges. A great deal had been heard about injustice to the minority. It was perfectly absurd to say that the League was asking for this restoration of Teligious liberty at the expense of- the minority. The Churches, not the State, would pay for definite religious teaching. The expense of Bible lessons would be merely in the printing. This was a bagatelle. Would it bo much more than the expense of printing and distributing free of charge, as was being done at present, lessons on Mohammedanism, Confucianism, tho Japanese religion, and the heathen gods? Tbe Minister of Education in Queensland had, ho concluded, stated publicly in New Zealand, there was no addition to the Queensland Educational voto in consequence of religions instruci^Dn.