BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1924, Page 1

BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

FATE OF -M.R I SITE’S Ml LI

WELLINGTON. July IS

Previous measures, seeking sonic modification of New Zealand’s secular system of education, have been so harshly treated in tho House of Ropreseutatives that even supporters of •Mr Isitt’s Religious Exercises in Schools Hill were surprised when it came within one vote of getting past the second reading stage. However, though encouraged, they realise that some votes east for the second, reading carried a reservation regarding the commit tee stage, and it is quite ultaleistood Hint a private member's Hill, which meets with serious opposition on the second reading, is fated for defeat, in- its equivalent, serious modification in the committee stage While the Reform and the Liberal Parties were thoroughly divided on the Pill, the Labour Party east a solid vote against it, and they scored at. important advantage by some latehour tactics which enabled I limn to secure a narrow victory. Air E. .T. Howard, one of the Labour members, was absent owing to his South African trip. He was what is technically known as a “dead vote," hut the Labour whip succeeded in trading this for a perfectly live vote, that, of a Reform member who was in the iioiiso during tlie debate. Had the latter member not obliged there would have been a dead beat, but the incident is not of consequence in view of tlie measure’s poor prospect during the next

stage. The member for Christchurch North lias been greatly encouraged by bis experience, and looks forward hopefully to tin l next Parliament, when, members, having been influenced by public opinion, will, lie believes, come to the House empowered to modify their pledges on the question of free, secular and compulsory education. • Honestly,” said Mr Isitt to a correspondent. “I am more than satisfied with the division. Von have had long experience of Parliament, and f know you must agree that such a division, five or six years ago, would have been outside the range of possibility, and this happened in spite of the fact that members of both parties had pledged themselves at last election to stand by the free, secular and compulsory system. We came within two votes of securing a victory, which is indicative of the l growing feeling ill the Dominion that something must lie done to bring the best inJluelicc to bear upon the children in olir State schools. Surely one can have no stronger evidence of this than the filet, that, extreme as have been the differences concerning the nature of the measure required among the various sections of the Protestant C hurches on this occasion, all dill’et'eilees were suppressed. and, for the first time ill the history of the struggle, all the C’hrislian Churches, with the single exeeptic ii of the Roman Catholic C hurch, presented a united front. There were at least four ur live members who definitely stated that, had they not been hound by their pledges, they would have supported the Hill.” “One question, which is absolutely pertinent to the matter and which elicited no reply," continued Mr Isitt, “was why Itihle reading and prayers and exercises of a similar character to Unit prope-cl in the Hill are now being illegally practised in a very large number of our secondary schools, without, in a solitary instance, arousing the sectarian bitterness which the critics of the Mill predicted would follow iis application to the primary schools. Seven-eighths ol the time oc* cupied by oppoii'Mits ol the Mill was taken up in objections which cannot npplv to it, because 1 made it clear, in my sei'oiid-reacling speech, and it is plain in the measure itseli, that the Rill does nop provide for Mihle teaching, but lor Ititcle reading. “1 am very encouraged." concluded Mr Isitt, “because I fully believe if. during the next twelve months, steps arc taken to ascertain the will ol the majority ol the people, nothing can prevent the Mill from passing in the next parliament. Ore all-ini] ortant fuel i- that. I'rnni any end ol the Dominion to the cither. I have received, without solicitation, rosiiltiniis ill favour of the Mill passed by householders' meetings w lie u appointing School (.immittees. I have heard ol foui or live resolutions against, the I’ill. but have not received them: and I believe, if tlie School Committees throughout tlie country composed of the parents of tlie c hildren, were consulted in tho mat to i* .t It tmiicritv of votes in favour nf tho Bill would lit' enormous.”