THE STATE SCHOOL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3168, 20 April 1909, Page 5

THE STATE SCHOOL ELECTION.

(To the Editor). Sir,—ln the majority of the day schools of the United States, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, and South Africa, the Bible is read daily, but New Zealand banished the Bible from the State Schools some 55 years ago, wit'.i the result that there are a great percentage of young men, native born, in our gaols. And the effects are seen in other directions. Parents who 3es ire to see their children get the highest possible training during the short school life, are urged to work for the restoration of the Bible to our schools by attending the Annual Meeting of' Householders oh Monday, 26th -inst.y and only voting for candidates' who are pledged to get the School Committee to take a local referendum' on' Bible reading. If a public hall' hatf been"Engaged for the annual meeting,- two blackboards should be prdvided,' one for the list of candidates who are' "For Referendum on Bible Reading," and the other for the list of those "Against Referendum." Wives of householders can vote at the above meeting. The Referendum could be easily taken with the aid of the children, each parent to have supplied within 30 days a voting paper'with the following questions thereon, to he signed and returned:— 1. I agree to allow my child to take part in a daily Bible reading at the State School. 2. I object to my child taking part in a daily Bible reading at the State School. Voters to cross off the clause they object to. I£ the 2,000 School Committees in the Dominion find parents are favourable, Parliament will be approached this session. School Committees are advised that copies of the "Ten Commandments," for displaying in class rooms, being sanctioned by the majonity of Education Boards, are now procurable from the Bible Depot, 71 Willis Street, Wellington.—l am, etc., S. PEARSON. 253 Cuba St., Wellington, 15th April, 1909.