BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1541, 5 September 1881, Page 2

BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS.

MR. R. J. SEDDON’S SPEECH. In the House on the 23rd ult., a long discussion took place on the Education Amendment Act, providing for Bible-reading in schools, sent down from the Upper House. It was thrown out hi .the Assembly by 52 to 15. The West Coast members voted in the majority, except Mr Weston, who walked out when the division was called. The following are Mr Seddou’s remarks on the subject, taken from Hansard :

Mr Seddon paid the explanation, though a lame one, given by the honorable gentleman must be accepted, but, at the same time, he thought members would be placed in a false position as between themselves and their constituents. He would go further and say, with reference to the remarks of the honorable member for Taieri, that if the question were put by a plebescite to the parents in Otago, “ Will you allow the present system to remain as it is without Bihle-reading in schools, or will you revert to the system you had before ?” the verdict of those parents would be in an exactly opposite direction to that stated by the honorable member. They would not, for a moment, wish to tamper with a system of education given to their children which would have been denied to them in the country their parents came from, and which was denied to them in this country until the present system was inaugurated. It was a very large question, and he felt satisfied in his own mind that the expression they bad just heard from the Minister of Education was simply a reflex on the opinions of the Cabinet. But, while that honorable gentleman had the courage of his opinions, and told the House what he thought on the subject as an individual member, yet the Government, of which he was an ornament, dared not come forward and pay that as a Government they believed in Bible-reading in schools and would make that a test question, and go to the country upon it. If they did so they would leave those benches with ignominy ; the country would not support them in such a position. He took it that in these matters the majority must rule. If the majority was not to rule—if the minority in various parts of the colony were to dictate to the majority in other parts —where was it going to end 1 What had they done * They hail built up an institution which was working well. They found that one particular class who had always opposed the system of education in the colony had now to a great extent come round to their view of things. In some instances the present system was not accepted by those I

people; but in scattered and sparselypopulated districts their children attende 1 the public schools, and the* opposition which had existed was gradually disappearing. .Under these circumstances were they to go back to the point from whence they started 1 Were they to offend these people, and give them just cause lor opposition, They Vmuld not be doing their duty if they did sd. It was the duty of every well-wishof ol the r&Vtse bleducation; and of every one who desired to see that the rising generation were educated', to endeavour that their -system might be such that every man could send hiS children to school witholit interfering with his conscience. The present system seeded to work so satisfactorily in the district he represented that if he were to attempt for a moment to tamper with the system by supporting Biblereading in schools, hia conduct would be universally condemned. Even that sect which were strongest'in support of Bible-reading hi sdhools, if two thingfl were put to them together—whether they would wish to offend their fellows colonists of different religions, and ther they would do a thing that would injure the system of education—ifthosd two questions were fairly put to then! he was fairly satisfied they would withdraw from the opposition as displayed in Otago principally, and would say, “ Allow your system to remain as it is.” Seeing that those who were ill favor of Bible-reading ill schools, while they asked for discussion, said the present occasion was not opportune, and seeing also that there was littld time left td dispose of the Bills already on the Order Paper, and that the fevet of haste had already"" set in, as was evinced last night; when, during the debate on the . Railway Cdnstruction Bill, they could scarcely keep a House—if in the case of such an impdrtant Bill as that the feeling of the House was against discussion, that ought to be aff answer to those honorable gentlemen who complained that this question Wad not being fairly discussed. Therefore his vote would be: with the honorable member for Caversliam. He felt satisfied they could do no good by discussing the question. There wdnld soon be an appeal to the country, and let the elections decide the matter.