WHEN THE REFERENDUM BILL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2199, 11 July 1914, Page 8

WHEN THE REFERENDUM BILL

I Vr'i.Afl- -,■/( i^the'Editor.); ; [ •;.;'. ) ;10, '■:' have-certoinlyiiio jntentioir of, complauiiug.voiv.yourv rejoinder,.td/niy •letter.:, α-aeked' for aistateitfeut'of what ; ypu, keep .certain: things iwell.'in" the-' bade-' ground;'"and those whose, caiiso you advocate had'done to'make* clear to'the ■rank and file *6f your party.,that-it-is , intended to coerce-.the-minority. to/pay for what is v contrary to their religious convictibusV .You - rejoin',"that'.iio par-.ticular-religion is- be 'taught;.and you , refer to the conscience , clause; '..But/siri yoii do not reply to the question.' I am' content.) '■■': V' ,, -" ■■.;■■</ \v>; ■ ■.■..•; ,■.-. ; Althouglv.youliave' not answered my ;fifst,que'stipn,T venture to'ask another; '. : Hftye., : ypu,'''eir, : ' : .who'-.cpinplain;- i of ,v your oppbrjejits'ikeoping -things- in ■ the? backgrpund, '.made-'/it clear' in your state-. ■'rafents':as.to ; the smooth wqrking/of the ;plan: ; : m,;parts.of Australia, -"that , . thero .is^'a'-:'fundamental' difference';'',between' : their education systems 1 and ours in-t'he existence here of; local committees, with' certain, rights in connection with .tile appointment of teachers, and with other 'important powers?' ITiie*would seem to be of great weight; but one seldom'finds that'your party refers to''it, -and then never with. ,a full -statement of the' facts.' Siirely, ■ the statement that the plan works weil'in Australia and would .therefore>.work : well here.- is,-to. put it verv mildly,; not really enlightening with such an omiseion as I have referred to. •The, -plainest; reference on -the. side: of the Bible-in-Scliools Party, so far as : I know, is in an.-article in your columns, or an advertisement perhaps, bv Mr. N. 8.. M'Kenzie. 'He speaks of-a difference in tie motiiod of appointment, only to indicate, .that the party is very nearly, sure that it will soon be changed: "Wo are; very' 'nearly--.".sure, 1 ;■:.' -i., ;'" that the. present; method of appointment will bo abolisiiedi , . ;.V ■',',•, ■'.-"... If this refers to the iti foreshadows, a consid'e'rable' durtailmen,t of .'their powers. Is the Bible-in-Sphools Party strong enough to do'tliis? It'.-inay.'.be found that;tno Nomocracy'.jou are-so anxious to.trust with- control -in;. matterp: of conscience aud religion will view unkindlv this proposed .clipping of 'its':.temporal wings.— .1 aui.'etc,. .-■■ ■- . .■-..- \ ... "■ ■; -.' V -. ••■■;-■■•;■ •';.■" :r:".;-',H-.-.-.:BV>KlB.E. ; - v , ■ , [Our, correspondent; we nave no doubt, .knows, well that '.the only, iwint'.'at issue at,the present stage-is_:•(.&• right: ?f .the people, to , say-by a direct vote ■hether'or-not Bible'.lessons'.shall lie, taught in their own scliools.'.The merits! :or demerits of the Bible ; lessons, scheme , is cfuite ano'ther, issue] -and is 'not, liefore Parliament...When,tho.right-to the referend« m j s 'granted'the'merits'of the proposed, change can. be fairly, .discussed before, the people's vote is taken. v ;At. 'present they merely serve,to .confuse'tho immediate issue, which would appear to 'be'-tho dbjecjl of the opponents of tho' toble-in-sciiools.'mpvementil ' .- ;' ~