THE NELSON SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1781, 20 June 1913, Page 6

THE NELSON SYSTEM.

Sir,—Frequent references nro being mado by opponents of tho Bible-in-Sitate-Schools League to the alleged failure of th© ministers of the churches in tho city of Wellington to take advantage of the Nelson system. May I, as an old member of tne Education Board, point out that the ministers of Wellington do not go into tho State schools outside the school hours, simply because the Education Board has refused to grant the facilities which would enable the ministers to take advantage of that opportunity. I would remind the public that amongst other attempts mado to obtain these facilities, one occurred in the early part of 1910, when a motion was moved in tho Wellington Education Board, tho effect of which motion would bo to give the committees of the various schools an opportunity of granting the privilege to the clergy, or other suitable persons, to give lessons on the same lines as is done in Nelson out of school hours. It cannot be forgotten that that motion was negatived by the Board. I would suggest that those who disparage the ministers should first ascertain the facts. I ask yon if it is fair, in face of these facts, too, that comments should bo made reflecting on tho clergy of this city, seeing that they havo been absolutely prevented from doing what they have shown they are willing to do. , It is this very failure of the Nelson system which has helped to induce 6ome of us to make our appeal, not to a handful on a board or committee, but to tho fuller and final tribunal of the wholo people. Tho Nelson system has been discouraged in tho past by 6ome who aro now using it as an argument against the Bible-in-State-Sohools League. Perhaps there is the hope that tho league's ranks thereby will be divided.—l am, etc., „ JOHN G. W. AITKEN.