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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3246, 26 November 1881, Page 2

Captain Russell has placed his views c.n the Bible in schools question very clearly before the electors. He says that he has no objection to the Bible being read before school hours to any children who may attend, on a petition to the Education Board of a substantial majority of the parents, backed by a recommendation of the School Committee ; the Bibk reading to form no part of the school course, and not to take place within school hours. We like the Captain's "views " immensely. Not a word is said as to who is to read the Bihle, and no particular version of the Bible ia mentioned. At present the School Committees have power to grant the use of the school buildings before and after school hours to anyone who may desire to form Bible classes, and in Napier permission has been granted to the Rev. De Berdt Hovell to use the school for that purpose. Children would not be compelled to attend these classes, any more than they would a Sunday School. It was not tho fault of the Act that these Bible classes have not been formed. There is no necessity for a " substantial majority of the parents of the children " to petition the Education Board on the subject, nor is it in the least likely that any School Committee would so far forget its own rights and dignity as to recommend the Board to interfere with the use of school buildings. As a member of the Education Board Captain Russell should have known the powers of that body better than to have written such nonsenee. Why could not Captain Russell have said plainly, " I am not in favor of the Bible being read in schools;" but we notice that nearly every candidate for parliamentary honors in connection with this subject beats around the bush as though frightened of giving offence.