BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 227, 25 October 1929, Page 8

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

From Our Special Parliamentary Reporter.

LEGISLATIYE COUNCIL DfSCUSSION. YARYING "\TFAVS EXTRESSED.

WELLINGTON, Tliis day. The attitude of Maori adherents of the Roman. Catholic faith towards the Bible in. sc-hools proposals, contained in the Hop. G. M. Thomson 's Education Amendment Bill was defined by the Hon. W. Rildliana through an interpreter in the Legislative C'ouncil yesterday, On hehalf of the Catholic Maoris Mr Rikihana thanked the Hon. C. J. Carrington for the statement he had alreadv made on behalf of the Catholic people. The Maoris, he said, wished to work for thc conimon good and the natives did not want to see their children quarrel over the Cjuestion of religion. They lived in peaee and liarmony and lte maintained that of all miiusters, teachers and otlier persons concernod in tlie education of the ohild tlie parent sliould he most fitted to teach tliem religious principles so tliat there might be no quarrels as to wbat dcetrines fehouJd be tauglit. "I have no feeling against thc Hon. G. M. Thomson or the Hon. L. M. Lvsitt for their request tliat religion should be brouglit mto schools," said Mr Rikihana. ? "f. know that they are actuated hy good and high motives. 1 leave it to' the Council to decide whether or not it is a good measure for the people of New Zealand. What I want to ensure is that no evil may come of it."