BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1835, 22 August 1913, Page 4

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Sir,—On Saturday you published a letter from Miss Gascoigne, of New Plymouth, wlio was for many years a Stato teacher in the Nelson city schools, which letter has also just appeared in botli our local papers, and probably, under Canon Garland's guidance, is now running tho colony. Your correspondent claims special knowledge of the Bible-iii-schools.Fu))-ject, and puts her views before tlio public as arising from intimate understanding, as she condemns severely the Nelson system, and commends highly the Australian method. Miss Gi\scoigns Fays: ,rßomeniber that I-am writing with knowlodge- acquired as a State school teacher, who did everything possible to make the Nelson system work well." What are tlio simple facts in regard to Miss, Gascoigao's working knowledgo of tho Nelson system and the .assistance which she rendered? Miss. Gtiscoigiie never worked under our ■ system.' at all, on<T never gave it any "help.' She''resigned'" frbni'thb'service of the Neilson Education Board in December, IS9G, and shortly after left the town. Tho Nelson method-of,.Bible instruction start-, ed in July, 1597, six months after this lady was gone. Miss Gascoigile's incorrect .j statement about herself may safely be made tlio measure of the value of all her other statements in the long.letter by, which.' she seeks to enlighten tho public. Those who claim a monopoly of regard for the Bible might fairly be expected to make sure that they know something of a subject before they speak of it. le.st their testimony prove to be false witness. —I am, etc., JAMES H. MACKENZIE. Nelson,. August 18, 1913. . ; new Legislation wanted. ASSAULTS-.ON' WOMEN & CHILDBEN. Sir,—ln nearly every issue of tho dailjpapers an indecent assault on little children or wd'men-.by human fiends is recorded. As . tho' present Government is winning its lhiy-into the general public's favour, ■ br 'its refonu measures, I respectfully suggest that Government; members consider tlio question of bringing in a Bill making assaults on innocent children punishable by death. Australia, South Africa,', "and certain American States punish by death, indecent assaults on females. Hanging may be termed a brutal form of punishment, but whilst we have' brutal, degraded men wo must liavo a brutal penalty to deter others. Politicians fail to recognise that New Zealand is the dumping ground for bad men, who have had to leave West America and South Africa. Other countries have more up-to-date laws for tho protection of women, therefore this question wants going into by the Government in tho interests of our'sistors and child--ren.—l am, etc., A- NEW ZEALANDER. MR. TREGEAR AND MOTOR-CARS. Sir,—l was somewhat alarmed to read in 3'our issue of Friday last a proposal put before the City Council by Councillor. Tregear that motor-cars be taxed to tho extent of ,£lO -par year. Now, I take it that Mr. Tregear, who represents Labour, bear in mind, is out to cripple tho motor industry ._ If Mr. Tregear' were not so U'nrrow-visioned—thinking to. striko a blow at tho well-to-do -people who own motor-cars—and would think for one moment, ho must see that he is striking a severe blow at the very people who put him in his present place in the council —Labour. Does Mr. Tregear not know that in Wellington alone there are 5000 people, directly or indirectly, depnndeht on the motor industry for their living? Does Mr. Tregear not know also' thot there are in England many thousands of people dependent on this same industry, more especially since- the birth of thn new metering industry—the manufacture of cycle-ouris, tlio motor-car in miniature? Tlieso litlle cars arc sold at a price well within the. means of the man of t.lio moderate purse, and as th.cy are doing the some work as larger care, at a minimum of upkeep, it is no wonder that t'liev are gaining favour oil over the world. Tn connection with this new industry, I might mention, for Mr. Tregenr's enlightenment, that one company at Homo employs over 20(10 workmen in tho construction of these small cars. As there are considerably over 100 different manufacturers in England, it - will at once bo s?en Hie enormous amount of labour employed. Now,, if Mr. Tregpar's absurd nroposal were brought into effect, ■ it, would kill the cycle-car in this country, as the man. like myself, who can afford a cycle-car, cannot afford to nay ,£lO a vear lux. I would not mind a reasonable tax. say, .El or so (would welcome it as a innlf'.-'-i- of fact, as we would get better roads), and this would bring in a lidy revenue. Mr. Tregear's proposal appears to emlxuly all cars, irrespective of horse-power and size. Does Mr, Tregear think that the. miniature 8 h_ri. cyolo-caj would do as much. damaiQ.

to roads -as a3oor 4A h.p. car? Is it a fair tiling, (lion, to tax an 8 li.p. cyclecar to the same extent as a big-power(\l car? Mr. Tregear's contention that a ■car may be licensed in Christchurch but brought to AVoMington and used is beside tilt l question, and admits of no argument, as (lie sime could liapen of a car registered here and taken to Christchurch. Councillor Fletcher evidently knows very little more concerning tha niotor industry than Councillor Tregoar, <is ho stated that "n motor-car was an expensive thin?, and tlio man who could afford one could afford to pay a tax of £10." I have, shown that a man who own.s a cyelbciar (miniature motor-car) is not., except in perhaps one or two cases, able to pay this preposterous tax. I gave Councillor Matcher credit for more initeUiligenec. However, to return to Mr. Trcgear: Let those workers dependent on tho niotor mdustry remember that thoso candidates who talk in pre-electio.n speeches of their resard and sympathy for tho worker have not as much consideration for him ais tho ao-c,ailed capitalistic candidate. Onco they are given j)owcr, thlsy would through a mistaken n/niou, and perverted ideas, do thousands of thoso tlie.y profess to help a grievous injury, and deprive them of their means of liveJihocd.. I, as a worker, helped to further t-ho candidature of Messrs. Trcgear and Fletcher, but I now find that I have made, a rod for my own back. Such candidate; are. no good to the worker, who will no doubt bear this steadily in mind.—l am, etc..;