BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2315, 24 November 1914, Page 9

BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS

The following resolution (states a correspondent) was carried recently by the Auckland Central Committee of the Bible-in-State Schools League "That the Auckland Central Committee of the Bible-in-State-Schools League, representing over 30,000 electors of the Auckland province, emphatically protests against the action of Parliament in refusing to sanction a referendum on the question of Bible in schools, which many parents regard as a'matter of vital importance, and for whioh upwards of 150,000 electors had signed a request. We urge all members of the League to refuse to vote,for any,candidate at tho general election who does not pledge himself to vote for the referendum desired by the League. We pledge ourselves to carry on the agitation with all the earnestness that we can until this burning question is referredto the electors of New. Zealand for permanent settlement."

The Hon. R. H. Rhodes, replying to a question on the , Bible-in-schools, said according to the Christchuroh "Press" that he favoured the proposed referendum, which would merely give the people tho right to say whether Biblelessons should be given in the schools! What would follow in the event of the referendum deciding in the affirmative, whether a system much tho same as that existing in certain places at the present time, or some other 6jstem would be established in the New Zear land schools, as in those of Australia, he could not, of course, say, but he would like to make it clear that all that- was asked at present was that the people'be given the right 'to say whether or not they favoured the. giving of Biblß-lossons in schools.