The Dominion. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1913. THE BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS QUESTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1673, 13 February 1913, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1913. THE BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS QUESTION.

From- whatever point of view olio may approach tho Bible-in-schoola question, tho enthusiastic assembly of over three thousand supporters of the movement which crowded "the great Tou n Hall on Tuesday night must be regal ded as a most impressive demonstration. Its significance cannot bo ignored. It shows unmistakably that n very large section of tho community is not satisfied with the entire exclusion of religious instruction from oiir State schools, and that thousands of parents throughout New Zealand will never be content until the uncompromisingly secular character of our education system is so far modified as to permit of some form, of Bible teaching. On the other hand, it is also certain that a great many equally earnest people, actuated no doubt by equally high motives, are quite convinced that to give way on this point would result in the uolation of conscientious scruples, and would eventually wicck the national school system. The state of uniest caused by the action of lhe c c opposing forces ought not to be allowed to continue indefinitely, and it seems a pity that in a matter of this kind "a fight to a finish" should be necessary: but if no workable agreement can be arrived aV it is inevitable, taking all tho civcumutancos into consideration, that the.

people of New Zealand themselves inll have to he called upon to give the final decision by means of a referendum;

[ But whatever may be the ultimate result of. the campaign, it would be helptul at. the present moment if the limits ri£ agreement between the two sides could be clearly aswrtaincd. Ilia strange reticence of the Defence league on certain points makes it rather difficult for non-combatants to arrive at the true position. It is quite clear that the members of the Defence League arc strenuously opposed to any proposal that would compel State-paid teachers to give any form, of Biblical instruction, but on the .'question of providing adequate facilities in school hours for representatives of tho Churches to give religious teaching, the League seems to speak, with two different voices. The ."Wellington branch, so far as we are aware, has not taken the public into its confidence on- this point, though our evening contemporary, which is' generally regarded as the mouthpiece of the Defence League, has definitely declared in favour of what is known as the Nelson system, which gives the facilities' referred to. The Auckland branch, however, is emphatically opposed to any such concession, for in a manifesto' issued in December last it declares, among other things, "that tho introduction of a Scriptural -text bopk and the granting of the right of entry to religious teachers during school hours would yiblatc the essential principles of oiir national" system of education." Now, Mr. \V. 3. Speight is president of the Auckland branch of the Defence League,' and he is also .a'member of the, Anglican General Synod; but it is difficult to reconcile his speech , at . the recent meeting of, the Synod at Nelson with' the above declaration against tho right 6f entry. Addressing the Synod, he stated th'at they .should nbt ask for »ny, religio'iis,', text book from the State,'but should ask that every,-day of the week a certain portion-of the time should be, set apart for religious' instruction, under the. auspices, of teachers,of different denominations'.. We assume that Ma. Speighi means that this instruction 1 should be given in school, hours,'for,- as our evening contemporary has sta'tcd, "it must be conceded that success is practically impossibly if the religious lesson has to bo -given in .the afternoon when the ordinary lessons arc'.finished."

The public' has certainly a right.to expect from; the Defence ..League a definite statement of their, position as regards the proposal"'that the accredited representatives of tho religious bodies should be given facilities in sbhcol hours to impart religious instruction,. any , parent, .of course, having; the right to Svithdraw his child (from such teaching. No rights,of conscience need be violated, and s thc chairman of the Otago ! Education Board has publicly stated that in. Oam.iru,-'where, the ' Nelson system is in 'operation, instead.of the regular lessons being upset, there has been a general improvement in the ordinary y, r 6rk of the school's. The granting, of. these :facilities would have to lie provided for by, statute law, and riot left to thii whim of boards or committees, who may be sympathetic in .one district and uncompromisingly, .hostile in another. As we'h'ave'nlready.said, it must be borne inmind that the great mass of five people.belong to neither of,.the; fighting .camps, and neither ..of organisations miist be allowed to .dictate tha poliov of the country in. this matter.'-Their usefulness lies, in'the. fact' that.: they .enable.: the two. ..ex-,-trer"c pointsof vi"'w to be placed in a clear aivl forcible manner before, the perioral ..public.:, but no .decision by any narty or clique'will ever be accepted as satisfactory or final. .The ultimata judgment must be left to. the cfibnK of New Zealand ~as .a' "■'hole./ This, of course, means a referendum; and taking the, exceptional circumstances of the case ..info.eo.tisidoration, wo . ."tre.- convinced that th-TOiis no other, way of arriving at a JnstiV settlement'of this difficult and delicate oucsiion.'