BIBLE-iN-SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2190, 1 July 1914, Page 3

BIBLE-iN-SCHOOLS.

OPPONENTS PETITION HOUSE, . A petition sigf.ed by Thomas A. Hunter and twonty-cuo others, protesting ■ijgaiftst- the proposal to take a tqfficgri.durn on tho ihisift-m-sdioola question, was prosouted to the House. of RepreSenityiivfls yesterday hy the Hon. A. L. Horduijin. The petitioners set fortli: ■ ' (!) That fto pfeseait national. system of education has conferred great benefits ©n the people* of Kfciv Zealand, and that its .mail! feature, vis., it? free, compulsory, and secular character, sWild on 110 account, fee interfered ■ with. <2'j That 110 religious question can be dealt- with by tho will, of a. majority, . and to take A referendum on su.eh a question Would bo to interfere with religious liberty, Therofo.ro jour petitioners req.u'sst yo'ur honourable House to maintain a ; iiftjOitiai sj?6ießi of otlnGijt'ion. o.n its present baSi'g {freo,, secular, and eonipuisM.y}> and to protect tho religious liberty of the people of New Zealand : against the cnsrdaisl(ni.en.ts of those who prq.p<jso, by meana of a referendum, ta compel tho teachers of our public schools t® pivo religious lessons to this children; tliCv further request that they may bo hoard on ..the question before the Education Committee of tho House of Representatives. ' A PETGNE HtOTEST. Tho full test, of tho resolutions carried at Monday n\eetmg of' the State Schools .Defence league, held at St. Außuscino's. Halt, I'etone,. was ias. und«r: —(l) "That this puhlio meeting of electar.s,, while recognising tho valuo of the Biblo and religion, opposes the seliomo of tho so-eallod Ciblo'in-scjiools party- on. the grounds that it is a denial £>f civil and religious liberty and a nwnaco to fiuir 'national system of education, and also trusts that Parliament. will (ledlit'ie to introclude tho vieioijs principle of majority rulfe in religion by a. relerondum on tho question : of religion and conscience.'' '(2) "That; this meeting of citizens protests against tho Religious Referendum Bill now be* fore the House, and deplores the fact, thai the Minister of Education should

have inserted iti thn Bill t;bo oxact fnf m ■wf ballot paper requested by tho B;ble-ni-Sehools League, such ballot paper being a. mockery of justice and a trav f'st.v of fair play, Further, if tho referendum is take.n, this meeting tV tn.ancls (a) the insertion of tlie existji'K : Soetilar system as iv ■sopflfiite ismo on ffffl. ba&lct paper; and (b) tho fair and adequate description on the ballot paper °( the essential parts of th.o scheme of the BiMo-in-Sshqbis league.*' ROMAN CATHOLICS AND THE REFERENDUM: .. At the Quarterly meeting of tho St.. Patrick's Branch of the Hibernian Society, held in St. Patrick's Hall last evening, Mr. J, O'Brien, R P , iii the chair, tho following resolution ' ivas unanimously cnrrfcil:— . "That this ln-finch of the Hibernian ■ Society strongly protests against th.e action of a weak Government in i'nterfrring with the religious rights and liberty of the people of New Zealand bv the iatroduction into Parliament of tho flihlswjr-Schools .Referendum Bill, tFlvkh is objected to by a large section of taxpayers who, as such, would be compelled to support a. system utterlv obnoxious to themand further, iho members horohy pledge themselves to join forces with the. hierarchy, tho clergy, the Roman Catholic Federation, and every other Roman Catholic society in New Zealand in an;- combined action which may be decided upon.,- and iisb tho united voting po-wor of BO.PDO Romato Catholio electors -of. the Bomiu- ■ ion in seeurina the defeat of a Government. that would dare to place such it ■ Bill on the ■ Statute Book ■•■of. this Do-" minion; and it further resolves to forward a copy of. this resolution to tho Right Hon. "■tTiovPrimft.-.Mjmstpr, -tho Right Hon* tho Leader of the Opposition, and to members of tho Wellington City electorates." PROTEST IN CHRISTC'HUROH. (By Association.)Ohrlstohuroh, Jiin& 30-. . At a meeting to-night, of tho Christrliurch Diocesan Council Executive of tho New Zealand. Catholic Federation, representing 24 brrfnehes in -Canter-' bury, and Westland, a. resolution ..was. passed, strenuously protesting against the proposed referendum on the Bible-in-Schools question. •