BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2207, 21 July 1914, Page 6

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

GAMPAICN IN CREYMOUTH

TELEGRAM TO MR. P. C. WEBB, ■■ v-;'. ■'■-. mj, ■ . •■ , (Byj Telegraph.—Wesr Association.) ■ ■■:■.' Creymouth, July 20. • The following is a copy of a telegram sent to-day by several of the local clergy to the member for tho district, Mr. P. C. Webb, M.P.:—"Large and enthusiastic meetings were held yesterday at' the several churches 'in Greymouth and Cobden. At each of them resolutions were carried -unanimously expressing appreciation of Referendum Bill how before" Parliament, and reepectfully and strongly urging you- to support the same; we desire that the whole of the people,.whether opponents or , supporters of the .. Bible' in State Schools, shall have the opportunity of 'giving a .direct vote thereon at the, ba'l-Ipt-b6x_;at. the: next general, election; we believe that by. talcing 'this course the encroachment of this subject upon the' political/arena • will,'be avoided. Overdone'-.thousand, and-.'fifty 9 of., .your ■coiistitiieiits , have signed- cards pledging, themselves to support the referen-. dum on the question-of Bible inatructioh in State schools.. , ..■.'.'".■..■.'':

"(Signed) Archdeacon: York' (Anglican), Rev: Trotter (Presbyterian), Rev. 'Ashcroft (Methodist), • Captaiii Relf (Salvation-Army). - •• PUBLIC APPRECIATION. (Frpm-a Correspondent'.) ;--At. a. meeting "of the-Central Committee, for. , .tlie .Auckland Province, it /vas unanimously, resolved that Canon Garland .-be 'congratulated 'on the' raeaeure of success , so far attained; and'to oixp'i-css-.deep Sympathy, with , him , 'in tlie ;unwarranted. ; attacks, made upon him , .personally.",., : N .

A public meeting held in the Kinvee Town Hall expressed appreciation of the action of th#,, Government, and asked the riiember for the district to support the.ißill a 6 introduced..-'. .... .-.-.■ The central, committee of the:Hawke's Bay province- of the Bible-in-State-Schools League has passed a resolution expressing congratulations to' . Canon ' Garland for the measure of success alroady. achieved' under his. leadership, and assuring him of its sympathy. - The. Cambridge Branch of the W.CXTL, at a meeting held last week, unanimously agreed to a resolution supporting.the Referendum Bill, as introduced, j)' '■' ■/■■■'.

WOMEN'S PROTEST ACAINST MR. COATES, M.P. (From , a Correspondent.) ■ At a meeting of the Women's Branch of tho Bible-in-State-Schools' League, Aratapu, a resolution was carried-re-cording the-'deliberate' protest of the women members against tho attitude of Mr. J.- 6. Coates, M.P., Kaipara,' in stating that .ho is not in favour "of Parliament granting the referendum, which the members regard as a' vote'of no confidence in his constituents. They reminded Mr. Coates that the question iCeally .at - J3SHO is whether the people who. eehd their children to the schools aiM'pay for tho schools,.shall have a right .to say what shall be taught there, or whether that ehall be said by a'few persons in Parliament. , A similar resolution was passed at 'Kopuru. '

Upon.being asked if the Hutt-District ■High School Committee had any resolution affecting the Bible-in-sch'ools question to consider at its next meeting, Mr. H. Baldwin (chairman) replied that as far as-he,knew therG'was.none.' V'ln fact,"'Mr;-..Baldwin added, 'T coiftider the question .should be left alone by the committee-"