RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1926, Page 9

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

THE VETO IN WANGANUI. Something of a bombshell has recently been sprung on the Wanganui ministers who, after 18 years, had been prevented from giving, religious instruction in the schools, said the Rev. E. T. Cox, M.A., when referring to the report on public morals before the Taranaki-Wanganui district synod of the Methodist Church in New »■ Plymouth yesterday. Formerly they had bad the right to enter the schools on two days a week between 9 and 9.15 a.m., but they had never used the privilege on more than one day. The chairman of the Education Board had now used his carting vote to veto the practice. It was not the chairman’s fault, but that of the people who put him there, and the churches should be very careful in the future who was put in positions of responsibility. The other side was fighting to place its nominees and the churches should be alive and alert regarding elections of school committees, city councils and other bodies in order that the right class of men should gain the seats. A day member explained that education Ijaoards were elected by the echool committees. “We want the law altered," said the Rev. W. Watson (Patea). Af present they were violating the law by entering the schools and he knew Mr. Collins, chairman of the Wanganui board, as an honourable man. He had taken the attitude that he should use his vote to n tain the law. The church should realise its responsibility. Many of the men occupying high positions were ready to put moral questions aside for the political aspect and that should not be.