VICTORY IN SIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 425, 6 August 1928, Page 14

VICTORY IN SIGHT

CANON JAMES CONFIDENT BIBLE IN SCHOOLS CONTROVERSY Expressing his belief that a great change had come over popular opinion on the question, Canon Percival James, in a sermon at St. Mary’s Cathedral yesterday, said that victory for the supporters of the movement could not be long delayed. Concerning the statement he had mad© some weeks ago regarding the Roman Catholic Church and the New Zealand Labour Party, Canon James said there Avas now a lull in the controversy which had been carried on by his opponents with something like hysterical fury. “I have no intention of replying a.t present,” he said, “nor do I think it Avorth while to reply to the attacks upon that which I have Avritten about the relations of the Roman Catholic Church- and the Labour Party in NeAv Zealand, in the avowed opposition c4£ both to the Bible-in-Schools movement. I have nothing to add to, or take away from what I have already said.” He Avent on to say that he asked people to judge his actual statement, and not the wild use of it that had been made. The actual statement he maintained and defended, but he accepted no responsibility for the picturesque language of others. “My opponents,” he said, “cannot complain that their side has not been adequately presented to the public, for they have occupied 10 times more space in the public Press than I have done. For my part, the messages I have received in great numbers from almost every part of New Zealand, fortify my confidence in leaning to the .judgment of tho public both on this

particular question, and my reputation for fairness in controversy.” PUBLIC FEELING CHANGING Continuing, he said Parliament had once more surrendered the friends of the .national system of education to their foes. The defeat was not unexpected, and the supporters of the measure were not discouraged. Popular feeling was changing, and victory could not be long delayed. Tho division in Parliament had been close, and for the fourth time in five years the main deciding factor in the defeat of the measure in the House had been the solid adverse vote of the Labour Party. Alone of the political parties, Labour had made opposition to the measure a question of party discipline and loyalty. The preacher went on to say that the Leader of the Labour Party contended that a religious issue should not be submitted to the people*. Yet he complained vehemently that there was not a referendum on the question of military training Avhich Avas generally conceded to involve questions of religion and conscience. The truly democratic view was held by the late Mr. Seddon, who repeatedly declared that Bible reading in public schools was the one question that should be referred to the people.