RELIGION IN SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 136, 2 November 1914, Page 2

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE'S BINDINGS. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association., Wellington, October 30. Reporting upon tho petition of the Reverend Professor, W. H. Hcwitson, objecting to certain provisions embodied w the Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill, the Education Committee states that the committee had ie*rd evidence on the subject matter of these petitions, much latitude being •llowod to witnesses in the desire to fet all facts, and the Committee was of opinion that the New Zealand State system of free secular and compulsory education under whicli our children had received incalculable bcnelits, and under which after a 37 years' experience our people, the iuiinc- u „e majority of whom have passed through our schools, compared most favorably morally, socially, and religiously with the people of any other part of the world, should be maintained; further that the Committee was fully alive to the value of biblical and religious instruction, and was of opinion that full opportunity should be given for the adoption of a voluntary system such as that known as the Nelson system, in which the teaching was imparted outside the statutory school hours, and under whicli the State exercised no authority in religious matters, and under which tlure was no compulsion" or violation of the rights of conscience.

Kiiiioriing upon tin; petition 01 August Fremont and others, praying that'the .Religious Instruction in Schools KriVrendum ]!il] be not passed, the Committee s-tatos that the oommitee is of opinion that the proposals in the Uelinioi'is Instruction ill Schools RefM*cndum ]ii:i introduced this session by the llouj das. Allen should not he allowed to bvtoine law.