PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 13

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

In spite of tlie boisterous weather evening-, there Tvas a good attendance at the meeting called by the Protestant Political Associationin the Free Methodist Sc-hool, ilt. Eden. The Rev. Harry Johnston, of Mt. Eden Congregational Clmrch, presided, and in his opening remarks emphasised the need! of vigilance to ensure that t'.ie State j system of education was not under-1 mined by frrants to denominational I school?. He stated tile thin edge of the wedge liad already been introduced in the Souch Island, where a gr.xnt -had uecn mad.- to a Fioman Catholic Tech-ni.-al S-iiool. The other speakers were the Rev. Cranston. Messrs. T. T. Garland, and Will More. Mr. Garland referred to the power of the Pre*s, and claimed that; it owed its existence in the first Instance to Protestantism. England had a free Press two hundred years before other countries, and tliat, lie claimea, ■n-as solely due to it being a Protestant country. Mr. More dealt to some extent with the forthcoming- election. He ■warned the audience not to vote foT any man who had no '"God, Kins, or country." (Applause.) They "should put Hue«tions to the candidates, and see they did not vote for any man -who favoured •riante to denominational schools. They should also be certain that the candidate •they supported was loyal to the British Empire. Mr. More said the coming election ■would mainly be fought' upon two issues—Prohibition v. Uquor, and Protestantism v. Roman Catholicism. It had appeared in the Press that it was t-o be regretted religion should enter into politics. Many would probably agree with that sentiment, but it should lie clearly understood that tixe Protestant Political Association had not introduced it. That was done by the Catholic Federation. The Protestant Political Association had merely accepted the challenge thrown at it, and if they were properly organised -they -would win the coming election. (Applause.)