OPINION REFUSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 925, 19 March 1930, Page 1

OPINION REFUSED

BOARD’S ADVICE ON BIBLE-TEACHING RATIONALISTS’ REQUESTS The Auckland Education Board this morning declined to supply the New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Rationalism with a copy of a report by its solicitor on the regulations applying to Bible-teaching in schools. At a previous meeting of the board, the association had threatened action in the Supreme Court should steps not b'o taken to prevent breaches of the law governing the teaching of the Bible in schools. A letter to the board this morning from the State Education Defence League drew attention to the “uncontradicted statements that religious instruction is being given, in direct contravention to the Education Act, in school hours in certain schools in tho City.” The association wanted to know what steps the board liad taken to prevent transgression of the law. “Since we were threatened with legal action, the Rationalists’ Association | has applied to obtain our solicitor’s opinion,” said the chairman of the board, Mr. A. Burns. “Would it be policy to give that opinion?” Tho board considered the question in committee. Mr. Burns stated later that the association's request had been declined. The board was only too anxious to keep within the Act. It was its duty to see that the regulations were not violated. There would be ‘ efforts to see that, on the mornings of ! religious instruction at the schools ! concerned, the schools would be asj sembled half an hour' later than the , ordinary time and the rolls then • called.