THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 45, 9 October 1914, Page 6

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

EVIDENCE BEFORE THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Wellington, October; 9. The Education Committee resumed taking evidence this morning on petitions presented to ' Parliament against the passage of religious instruction in schools. The first witness, Professor Hunter, Victoria College, who appeared for the National Schools Defence League, said he denied the League was composed of atheists and agnostics, or that the League was hostile to religious but it represented tens of thousands of electors who felt that if - the present attack on the national schools were successful, the day of peaceful progressive educational work in'the Dominion is over, and-instead of being united in the common welfare of their children, the people would be sundered into sectarian factions, fighting for denominational interests. He strongly condemned the systems of religious instruction in force in New South Wales aiid Queensland. In reply to Canon Garland, Professor Hunter admitted lie knew loihing of the credibility .if the Queensland witnesses',' whose testi.iiouy he quoted. He had not quote-1 all the references in the Queensland Hansard oil the subject of rel ; gbus instruction 'in State "schools. He admitted that G. K. ; Chesterton, whom he quoted against in schools, -was an advocate of denominational schools. He understood all the replies received to inquiries made rn New S..u<h Wale> regarding the education system there had not been quoted by his League. They only quoted evidence in support of their own side of the case. He was prepared to admit (after reading the declaration by "the Moderator) that ItEe Presbyterian 'Church-in Queensland was not' opposed to the -present education system there. He womu correct this evidence to that extent. He was not aware the Bible-in-Schoois League preferred the Queensland textbook as against the New South Wales iex'trbook. He' was prepared to accept the' statement that the Rible-in-Schooks League believed/ they wrere not asking teachers to teach religion, but he thought they were asking them to teach religion in schools.