BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 96, 25 April 1911, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

MATTER BEFORE SCHOOL COMMITTEES "AN OBJECTIONABLE FORM OF ADVERTISING. "- During the preliminary stages of the meeting of Wellington South householders last evening an individual endeavoured to get an expression of opinion on the much-debated question of Biole-iu-schools from the candidates, but the chairman (Mr. P. C. Watt) quickly suppressed the idea. When the main business of the meeting had been consummated^ and the new committee elected, the headmaster of the school (Air G. Flux) announced that he had received from an anonymous correspondent certain pamphlets (they were printed in Victoria, Australia), entitled "Religion, and the State Schools." The pamphlet declared, in effect, that "the demand that the State shall teach religion augurs no good. It is a backwafd step. ' Mr. Flux said he had not read th© contents, but he objected strongly to being asked (as he had been) to distribute the tracts amongst his staff. "I object to this business very strongly," said Mr. Flux. "It is a very objectionable form of ad- 1 vertising." The correspondent urged that the tracts should be "read, studied, and digested." (The envelope bore reference to patent food.) "I don't know whether the exhortation refers to the pamphlet or the food," added Mr. Flux, amidst some merriment. "You may have your own views on this matter, said Mr. Flux further to his audience, "but I have mine. So I will keep mine, and you may keep yours." "Put the packet in the waste-paper basket," ad vised a voice. "No, I am going to burn it," ~eplied the recipient suggestively. A FUTILE MEETING. At the Clyde-quay meeting last evening the report stated that an. attempt had been made to deal with the question of Bible reading in the school. Communication had been made to each school committee in the city and suburbs/ inviting them to attend a meeting to discuss the matter. Only three replies favourable to the meeting being held were received. The meeting was called for the date fixed, but the attendance was too small to permit of any business being done 2 and it had to adjourn sine die. The committee was of the that nothing further could be done in the matter without the co-operation of some of the other school commitees. COMMITTEE NOT SINCERE. It was asserted by some of the householders that the retiring committee had not been sincere in their enthusiasm for the Bible reading in schools. The quesI tion was asked whether the committee had taken 'steps to have Bible reading j in school after hours, as it could not 'immediately secure the reading of the Bible during school honn>. Nothing, however, had been done in the matter, it was admitted, the chairman, Mr. D. Robertson, repeating what he had said at previous meetings, that Bible reading in school could not be secured without legislation. CANDIDATES' OPINION > ASKED. The question was briefly touched upon at the annual meeting of householders connected with the Lower Hutt Main Sphool. After the nominations lor committeemen had closed, it was asked that, before the ballot be taken, the candidates be invited to state whether they were in favour of Bible-in-schools or not. The chairman (Mr. Wilson) Eaid he thought such a question was unnecessary, but if it was the wish of the meeting he would put it to those candidates present. He then proceeded to do this, and had received one answer in the affirmative when objections were raised. After considerable discussion, it was decided to take the opinion ot the meeting, and it was then decided, by an overwhelming majority, not to put the question.