BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 7

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

THE CALL FOR A SEFEREXDUiI. (By Coi'respOndent.) DuncUln, February 13. At a meeting Of the; l)ible-in-Stato iScliools'. Leieue, held here this, evening, the following . resolution,, moved by Dean Fitchett. arid" Seconded' by tho Rev. Mr. Grant (Congregational), was unanimously adopted i—"This meeting Of Central Committee, representing the Bible-in-State Schools' League for. the electoratk v - > of'-''liril^ r r'olialmers, Duncdin Cen'tril, Diinl'diii' North, Duriedin.South, Dunedin West, Otago Central, Oamaru, and Wakatipu, having a writton membership of 16,816, expresses tho .conviction that sufficient evidence has been afforded the Govoriinient of the wishes of tho .people of .Now Zealand for tho referendum asked for by the leaguo to justify the Government in passing'the necessary measure to allow tho peoplo to decido the matter for themselvos.-. This meeting would regret any delay in the granting of the referendum, fearing that the effect of such) delay would be to cause the question of religious instruotidn to become predominant at . tho noxt general election, to the overshadowing of party and other questions. This is a course which tho leaguo has sought to avoid, desiring to keep this matter free from all party issues. This meeting pledges, itself to'support the' executive of the league in whatever course it deems necessary : .to carry .into effect, this resolution, and suggests that the executive should'. consider the desirableness of obtaining from aiiongst the immense number of league members in the Dominion signed promises from those who aro prepared to put this question before all political issues." _ The. women's branch of the leaguo, in tho afternoon, unanimously resolved as follows:—"This Central Committee believes that , there is a growing opinion amongst' the women irembers of the league, that tho 37 years' agitation in favour of religioas instruction in State schools has come to the point when any further procrastination, preventing the people from settling the matter for themselves, will have the effect of leaving no alternative to many women, who are prepared to put tho Bible and tho children's interest before all, party issues, but to follow that course from which they havo hitherto' refrained at the request of , the leaders of tho movement."