N.Z. SCHOOLS DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 8

N.Z. SCHOOLS DEFENCE LEAGUE.

EXECUTIVE MEETING.

RECENT ATTACK CHALLENGED. At a meeting of the executive of tlio New Zealand National Schools Defence League, held on Friday evening, Sir. A. It. Atkinson, the president of tlio league, said that he had been censured for the remarks he had made at the previous mooting regarding the misconception and ignorance upon which the support claimed b.v tlio Bible-m-SchooJs League was largelv based. He was not accustomed to talk wildly, and stood by every word that ho had previously said. It would ba advisablo to collect and publish' tho evidence available on the subject, in order to expose the'hollowness of the bogy by which the league sought to scare the politicians. As an indication of the nature of this evidence, he might mention that not long ago. a prominent member of tho Biblo-in-Schols League had stated that under tho league's scheme teachers would bo protected by a conscience clause; that similar statements had been made by the league's canvassers in Wellington, Cliristchurch, and other places; that one of these canvassers had stated that most of her cards ought to bo put in tho fir© because slio know that most people only signed to get rid of her; and that in Auckland 2000 signatures had been obtained in a very short time to a petition in opposition to tho proposals of the Bible-in-Schools League, and that about a quarter of the signatories admitted to having previously signed the league's cards under a complete misapprehension as to what their purport was. At this rate it would not take long to bring the imposing structure erected by the league tumbling down like a pack of cards—which it actually was. Tho Cariylo Telegram. Mr. Atkinson also called attention to the absurdity of the Press Association telegram from Dunedin which was published on Wednesday last. Several inches were devoted to the report of a lecture delivered.on behalf of the Bible-in-Schools League, the chief point of which was a quotation from a letter written by Carlyle to Sir Henry Parkes in 1870. It was ridiculous that a blessing given moro than forty years ago to the New South Wales system on general principles, by a man who had 110 means of gauging its actual operation, should bo telegraphed round the country as news at this time of day. Tho general language of the blessing mado it equally applicable to the Nelson system of Bible-teaching or any other, and it' was easy to guess wlia,t language tho same authority would have used of those who neglected tho opportunities that the present law allowed, and then denounced tho result as "Godless." Professor Mackenzie confirmed the chairman's statißient as to tho unsatisfactory attitude of tho Press Association. The work that was being done by such speakors as Mr. John Caughley and Mr. Fowlds in defence of tho schools was ignored by the Press Association, yet it could find room for tho stuff to which the president had referred. Tho Auckland Defence Leaguo was, said Professor Mackenzie, doing good work with a petition to the House for tho maintenance of the present system.. Tho agitation of . the Defence Leagues was now becoming so big and active that in his opinion it was imperative to appoint a Dominion organiser.

Challenged. fl The following resolutions were passed: the attention of the exwmtivc of the Bible-in-schools League be drawn to the following statcmont", made by one of the league's-lecturers at a public mooting—viz:—'That Mrs. Atkinson, of Wellington, when one of a deputation to the Premier, told a deliberate lie, ;md knowing it to he so, in representing that tile whole of tlio Women's. Christian Temperanco Union was against the proposals of the Bible-in-Schools League, when only three out of nineteen branches were against it'; that if the Uihlc-in-Schnols executive approve of this charge, they bo requested to have it put in writing, so tli.it the lady attacked may be given an opportunity of vindicting her character in a Court of Law; and that if they do not approve of it they bo requested to say so publicly, to insist upon, a. full withdrawal and apology, and to state what other action they propose to take in the matter." "That tlie secretary bo instructed to write to tlio Press Association complaining of the absurdity of the message dispatched from Dunedin on Tuesday last, which purported to report an address delivered on behalf of -the Bible-in-Schools League at Lawrence on Sunday, and contrasting the allocation of three inches and a, half of space to Buch stale and uninteresting matter with the total ignorance, or very meagre reporting, of the other side of the questiou." - [The telegraphic message referred to above was forwarded by special correspodent, but, unfortunately, owing to typographical error, was made to appear ad Press Association.]