BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 31, Issue 44, 31 October 1907, Page 24

BIBLE-IN- SCHOOLS

A DEPUTATION GETS A DISCOURAGING REPLY

In last Tuesday's morning papers, there appealed the following Press Association report of a Bible-in-schools deputation which hacTwaited on the Prime Minister on iVLonday :—: — About thirty gentlemen representing the New Zealand Citizens' Bible In State Schools League interviewed the Prime Minister to-day upon the providing of Bible lessons m the State schools of the Dominion. The Hon George Fowlds (Minister of Education) was also present «i<Mt-' m (+( + MiH-R->.«M i H - R ->.« ln iatrodudm? the deputation saw it represented various school committees throughout the Dominion- They wished to hear a definite statement from the Prime Minister on the subject of Bible reading in schools. Mr. J. P. Burley (president) said the League wished £J ee ■ ?gIS? gIS atlon brou S h t forward to reintroduce the •i lx £°*. tlle State sch ools. The impression had prevailed that the clerics had been responsible for the .agitation, but the League indicated that a considerable body of laymen was interested in promoting the movement. The League claimed that it was right for some lorm of religious instruction to be in the elementary schools. Tt wished to see the Bible introduced into the schools, and read as a classic, and that the only explanations given should be only geographical. A conscience clause should be included in the legislation, enabling either scholars or teachers to be excluded from the lessons it it was their wish. If lessons were given on these lines, experience in Ireland had shown that there could be no sectarian strife, and that it would be to the benefit of the Dominion, - Other speakers were Mr. R. C. -Harding, representing various school committees, Mr. Spearson, secretary of the League, Mr. P. A. Vaughan, a raemR?tWnr°i Wei ; in * ton Sch <>°l Committee, Messrs Rutheifoid, Malcolm, James Allon, T. Mackenzie, Mander Mr. Fowlds, unon the Prime Minister's sue-esiioi' gave his views uron the subiect before, Sir Joseph Ward ro-lirvd. The Minister of Education remarked that the divergent views expressed by one or two of the speakers were characteristic of the divergent views held, not only among members of the House, but throuehout the country upon the question. Speaking from, his own pprsonal point of view, he believed that, if it was possible to

it £L« %• K e read sim PP 1 y as a classic, he would say it was desirable but he felt so certain, from his own experience of the working, of the Education Act, that it was not Possible without a good veal more following mVLS h f COuld aot sec his wa y t0 support it rnn+Hw^ P ? in !! d out ' that Romall Catholics were all SSir. K tl?lg t0 the natlona * system of education, and it a "™§ r tnin S "to institute something which would inevitably adrift into a system of religious instruction. They .were on safe lines now. He was in England last year, and was a good deal interested in the controversy going on there, in reference to the Education question and he- had no hesitation" in saying that fhPvP S the best - people ,' leaders of religious thought, it^was by thFSr?* feeling, that the only way to settle it was^ by the State- undertaking the-secular teaching of the children, leaving the religious instruction to the denomination to which the children's parents belonged £ ™ as ™ llin S tO . Sive both time and money to seture the benefits of religious instruction to the children, but r? e ht a ?o a i S ? wW S # + sat^fied that' the State had no light- to say what that religion should be. That was his own view of the matter, but, so far as the question <=>!+ II - on waS conee mcd, *he -Prime Minister would state the views of the Government on that point. He JSP^F^ difiuci "y in doing what the deputation asked without very materially undermining the founda* -tions of our national system of education fir** w° Sep ,y h - Ward f aid he would like to state, in the~ fiist instance , in reference to a request made by -Mr Ait Ken that the deputation was anxious for a definite intrL!L Om i - m i + as t0 wheth er the Government would desires^thSPtifp l r n t0 RIVe + effeCt t0 the deputation's m ?J1! ' Government had fully considered this ScJ ?hnt PP h n m ° re + -° ne occasion - In view of the Thf« m++ ' WaS °b ? lnt erviewed by the deputation. S™ S£ t + WaS , agam considered by the Government, fiorn the point of view that was now being urged. The Government had decided that it could not see its way to introduce such legislation for the reason that, if it did so, it meant that the Government- itself was favourable to the proposal made. As the Government was not " favourable, as a Government it could nob introduce legislation to give effect to what was asked. The Government took up the stand fchat it was in charge of a free secular, and compulsory system of education, and ft a change was desired, it was for the people themselves to give an indication. This important question was before the country at last general elections, and an examination into the results . showed that a considerable majority of members of the present House was not favourable to the proposal. He wanted, therefore, to give the -deputation a plain reply that the" Government could not see its way to introduce legislation of this nature' As to whether facilities would be given by the Government to. a private member introducing legislation no obstacle had ever been put in the way of a private member bringing in a bill in, order to test the feelings of the House. He cli-d not wish to go into the general aspects " of" this, matter,- except to say that personally he had always been in favour of religious instruction for all denominations of children. That was essential to their future lives,- and in the interests of the country. The difficulty surroun-ding the matter had been put forward toy the Minister of Education. Whatever the motives were in the past, the Bible was excluded from the school, but they would recognise that it w,as only the people themselves, that could settle a matter of this sort where there were so many diverse opinions. So long as the people confirmed the pres-ent system of allowing nothing in the shape of religious instruction in the schools then the Government must give effect to the mandate of the people. That was what' the Government was doing at the present moment.

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