ANOTHER OF THEM

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 197, 20 August 1919, Page 6

ANOTHER OF THEM

We have had political programmes from the Returned Soldiers' Association, the Welfare League, and the People's League—and is there not a Progressive party hovering somewhere in the background?—and now the Protestant Political Association comes forward with a long platform for the general election, with planks ranging from free provision of school books, to land settlement, public works construction, and housing. When the election comes the voter may stagger to the booth in an intoxication of bewilderment. What justification has the P.P.A. for coming out with a political programme which suggests that !Mr. Howard Elliott and his friends look forward to a time when they may be summoned to form a Ministry? We have always understood that the P.P.A. was formed with the main idea of combating what its members considered to be political activity on the part" of the Roman Catholic Church. Yet here is the P.P.A. doing what it considers the Roman Catholics should not do. The solemnity with which the P.P.A. announces itself as a saviour of the country is rather amusing, but this entrance into the political struggle of another party, and particularly a party like this, has its serious side. It will complicate the issues, and help to divide forces that should be united. And since the main object of the P.P.A. is opposition to Roman Catholic Church, this plunge of the Association into the political campaign must lead to an' increase in sectarian strife and bitterness.