BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 1, 13 July 1914, Page 4

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

ROMAN CATHOLIC PROTEST. VIEWS OF THE BISHOPS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, {Saturday. iv£ ? a 2 l V !8t ? been issued on the Bible-m-Scbools movements by tie »gned by Arehbishio-p O-Shea and Bishops Grimes, Verdon, and deary. The document begum by' claiming that the Bill just introduced does not provide for a referendum at all, but really fox a plebiscite, and is a question of special legislation for the special and exclusive sectarian benefit of one section of the population at the common coat of all .Complaint i» made that the Bill contain* one side of the controversy only, and does not give an equal chance to the opponents to put their schemes, before the people. It also adversely criticises the ambiguous and bewildering form of reference in the Bill. It is suggested that the fundamental issue for electors is, "Shall the system, of pubhe instruction remain secular as at present?" tat that the Bill begs the question and assumes there is nothing to do wit to determine what particular scheme of religious instruction shall Iks adopted. It is also urged' that the Bill submits Owes highly complicated issues on which the elector i» not allowed to vote separately, and that these three in reality contain six issues, on each and every one of which, it is claimed, opinion vm New Zealand iB profoundly divided.

The manifesto criticises the issues in detail, and asks, amongst otUar things, what, precisely, does "supervision" of the readng by teachers mean. In 1903, it is pointed out, there wae a conscience clause for teachers, and why not in, 1914? The con?eientious objectors amongst them must leave tiheir con- i Bcicnco outside or be driven from (he service. It* is claimed that a number, ol vital matters are concealed from the electors in the Bill's ballot-pape* or glossed over with ambiguous, or fair- ' seeming words, that tlije Government is' : to provide a State religion suited to one section, while no provision is made far the other section, that dissenters from this religion will derive no advantage* but have to pay taxes for it all the same, that objecting teachers will be injuriously affected, that the Irish proselytising conscience clause is embodied in the Bill. The manifesto concludes: "For reasons herein set forth we raise out voices in solemn protest .the oppressive Referendum Bill at present before Parliament,"

PREMIER'S ATTITUDE DEFINED. Wellington, July 12, ' Replying to a deputation from tlio ■ National Schools Defence League, which urged that the Referendum! Bill he not passed, Mi. Massey said a speaker bad found fault with the Government, saying that the Defence; League had not been treated fairly. (Hear, hear). There was another side to the story. He. had taken down, every word he (the Premier) had said to the deputation whea it visited him, and what he had said was: "Perhaps he might not be as good a Christian, as he ought to lie, but he wanted to tell the deputation thia tihat he believed in the Bible and stood by the Bible every time. In saying that he was opposed to anything that would be called sectarianism in the schools of the country.'' Mr. Massey went on: "and I Bay now that it is a very sorry state of affairs that in a Christian community, the Christian sects should combine to keep a knowledge of the Bible out of the schools of the country. S ■, think it is a sorry state of affairs tb&» the representatives; of the Christian ■ sects do not see their way to join and • arrange a system by which religious 'instruction would bu imnaa'tcd in the publie schools. - '

Voices: "On 1 ; of school 'hours. Religion taught in State schools?" Mr. Massey: "Don't put words into my month. 1 hit what I said then." He. added tlr.it this was not the first time this matter had come before the country. In I "05 a Bill was introduced providing for Bible lessons in schools, it wis introduced by a private member, iiiul the division list was very interesting. It had been said that members of the Human Catholic schools in this community Merc opuosed to the referendum being taken, hut he wanted to call attention to the way in whidh members* of I'ar'liaiiH'nt who belonged to that faith voted on the Bill. He read from thodivision list the "ayes" for the Bill. The (iovermnent had introduced the Bill be-'•;iu-w' of (he members supporting the Bible-in-sehools question -and those who did not. Cabinet ' wasi divided on the question. ll.' considered that when 150,000 people asked for a referendum it would not be right to stand in the way of (riving an opportunity for an opinion. Parliament was willing. The [ Bill \vn.- being prepared by Mr. Allen, not as Minister for Education. No pressure lead beer, brought to bear upon a member to vote for the Bill, and when (he division took place it would be found pvokvbly that as many members of Cabinet voted ''No" as "Aye." Mr. Massey. in conclusion, said that every opportunity would be given by petition and discussion and otherwise, and tlhcre nvould he a stiaight run for all of them. He vciuenihered one passage from the Bible quoted 1.-y the speakers (who h'ad shown ii snwd knowledge of the. Bible) viz.. the golden viile. "Do unto othesrs, ct.'."