MR ISIUT'S BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1926, Page 4

MR ISIUT'S BILL.

BIBLE-TN-SCKO 0 US. ROMAN CATHOLIC CASE. WELLINGTON, July 28. A request that the Religious Exorcises in Schools Bill be not allowed to become law until evidence is heard is made in a petition to the Legislative Council by the Ri. Rev. Bishop 11. W. Clclirv, -of Auckland, who states that ho is the appointed representative of, land spokesman for. tho Archbishops and Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand.

Tho petition declares: “Tho Scripture lessons anil exercises proposed in the Bill arc derived from a sectarian version of the Bible, and from forms of religious exercises unacceptable to the conscience of a. considerable section of tho taxpayers. This is in effect a scheme to enable the clergy of certain denominations to abandon in part one of Itho chief duties of the Christian ministry, anil to impose it upon the 'State officials or school committees. Teachers who are adherents of the Roman Catholic faith are among thosewho cannot in conscience conduct such religious lessons as are contemplated by tho Bill. In their case, and in the case of objecting teachers generally, tho assumed protection of the conscience clause would he illusory, because oil their refusal to officiate the responsibility would devolve on the local school committee which, especially in the case of one teacher -schools, would tend in the long run to discriminate against such teachers.

“Tho conscience clause for children is equally objectionable. Tho only faij- conscience clause would be one permitting attendance at tho proposed religious lessons and exercises only to those children whose parents requested it in writing. The Bill, if passed into law, would inflict grave wrongs upon conscientiously objecting taxpayers, teachers, and pupils, and it would he futile as a means of leaving definite! religious impressions upon the minds of pupils.” The petitioner prays that the Bill be not passed, and that in any event lie be allowed an,opportunity of giving and lulling evidence in support of his contentions.

A further request that evidence he heard on the Bill is made by Professor T. A. Hunter, of Victoria College; AVolliiigton, and six others, who state that for many years past nothing has occurred to discredit the equitable system of free, secular and compulsory education. During those years every attempt to introduce religious instruction into the schools had boon dofefitcd. 'At the last General Election all political parties accepted as part of their political platforms the maintenance of the education system now obtaining, and this’subject was not an issue. The other sign itories of the petition arc Hugh McKenzie, I. L. Gf Sutherland, E. J. Boyd Wilson, A. C. Hall, F. P. Wilson, and A. R- Atkinson, all of Wellington.