CONTENTIOUS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 244, 15 October 1935, Page 5

CONTENTIOUS?

ANGLICAN MOTIONS. ITALO-ABYSSINIAN QUESTION. ruled out of order. Objection to a resolution moved by the Rev. Jasper Calder dealing with the social order was taken by Mr. J. B. Lusk at the 28th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland, on tne grounds that it was contentious. Lengthy discussion followed on what was contentious within the meaning of the Church laws. Mr. Calder moved that Synod adopt the report of the diocesan social council and reappoint the same members for a further period of 12 months with power to add to their numbers. "The matter cflhtained in the report is contentious," said Mr. Lusk, "and therefore cannot be considered by Synod as the necessary three weeks' notice of motion has not been given." „ Several other speakers spoke along the same lines and suggested that the report be merely received aijd not adopted. Archbishop Averill said that the matter could be overcome if the same members of the council were reappointed and the question of adopting the report be omitted. However, two members, the Revs. R. Houghton and H. K. Vickery, said that they would not seek reappointment if that were done. "If I am ruled out of order I will go out, too," said Mr. Calder. His Grace said that although parts of the report might be distasteful to some, credit should be given to members of the council, as they were doing something to bring about a better social order. Members of Synod then decided to receive the report.

Motion On League Of Nations. At a later stage in tlie proceedings of Synod Archdeacon Mac Murray rose to move a motion on the order paper for the day, which read as follows: —"That this Synod desires to express its wholehearted sympathy with tlie Assembly of the League of Nations in its resolve to put in force collectively tlie sanctions authorised by the Covenant of the League of Nations against Italy, as the aggressor in its attack upon Abyssinia." However, before the archdeacon had begun to read the motion the Rev. Walter Averill rose to a point of order?

"The motion is highly contentious," he said. "There are some who consider that the action of the League of Nations is merely playing into the hands of the capitalists by enforcing sanctions, and I move that the motion be ruled out of order."

Canon C. A. B. Watson moved the suspension of the standing orders so that Archdeacon Mac Murray's motion could, be put, but it was defeated by a large majority and the original motion lapsed.