CHURCH SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 35, 5 November 1918, Page 2

CHURCH SCHOOLS

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Your correspondent, Mrs Marshall, presumably from relying on hearsay, a leaky memory or a powerful imagination, ims done the National Schools Defence League (at present hibernating) and myself an injustice.- It is true that the league and myself (its secretary) were opposed to putting religious instruction (in any shape or form) on the official Slate school syllabus, and to making it the duty of the teachers to impart suoh instruction. That is what the Biblo in Schools Party stood for—that is what "Qni'kndising" our State schools meant. Now. the National School Defence League and myself personally, with almost painful reiteration and frequency, in public utterances and in communications to tho Press, declared non-opposition to tho imparting of religious instruction in our State schools (at hours other I hail those required for Ihc State syllabus) by accredited representatives—}ny or clerical—of the Churches. 1 can furnish abundant testimony of the fact to Mrs. Marshall, /ho fact is that our league strongly supported what is known as the "Nelson system," but that was not. good enough for the Garlniidisors! We even strongly recommended tho "Nelson system" to thu Govern incut!

As for our redoubtable- friend, Mr. Millignn, this generosity and tolerance in dealing with ali connected with the educational profession must bo well known to your readers; He claims the right on the part of a. majority of tho peoule of tho Dominion to either Protestantise or Catholicise our Slato schools if they wish to; and also to coeiec the teachers to impart religious instruction of either brand, if need bo, in our schools! Air. Milligan and I belong to a class, known in certain circles as wage slaves; and, I presume, he and I should esteem it a compliment ami a privilege to he coerced by the Stale or by our employers to impart religious instruction to those associated with, or lo thoso under us. If I remember rightly, Mr. Milligan would not allow payment at ordinary or at overtime rates /or such services! I can assure Mr. Milligan that when he, or anyone of his generous school of politicians, attains to the Premiership of New Zealand, T shall be found a very active if not a sabotting member of a teachers' union! —1 am, etc., ' HUGH MACKENZIE. November 2.