BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 66, 9 November 1931, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

("Post" Special Commissioner)

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL SHOULD NOT PROCEED ALTERNATIVE PROPOSED

WELLINGTON, Saturday. An adverse report upon the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill was made in the House of Representatives this morning by the Education Committee. The committee stated that after carefully eynsidering the Bill, and having heard evidence on it, it recommended that it be not allowed to proceed because, in the opinion of the committee, the question could be met by the insertion in the Education Act of the following clause: "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the principal Act, or in any direction given by the board, if accredited persons approved by the Minister desire to give moral and religious instruction of a voluntary nature in school buildings, the ordinary opening hour by the school shall be postponed, or the ordinary closing hour in the afternoon shall be advanced, on one day in each week as agreed tipon for not more than half an hour in order to enable such instruction to be conveniently given, provided that no alteration shall be made in the opening or closing hours which would reduce the number of hours to be devoted on that day to secular instruction to less than the minimum o'f four hours fixed by the principal act."