OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17740, 17 April 1923, Page 11

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

CASE OF A. W. PAGE., "What lias come to be known as the Page case received its quietus, as far as the Council of Christian Congregations is concerned, at a meeting of the Council last evening. The matter had been discussed at two previous meetings of tho Council, at tho last of which the Rev. J. Paterson moved two resolutions, urging: (a) the abolition of the oath of allegiance or its amendment, explicitly allowing for rights of conscience to God, and (b) the reinstatement of Mr Page as a master at the Boys' High Sdhool. When the matter was brought up last evening the llev. John • Dickson said he had not heard of any other Council of Christian Congregations protesting against the oath of allegiance, and he failed to see why the Christchurch Council should enter a protest against it. He had not heard of any teachers, other than Mr Page, refusing to take the oath. In his opinion tho Council would occupy its time more profitably in endeavouring to strengthen the oath of allegiance, rather than in loosening tho allegiance of the teachers. What was good enough for Knights of tho realm should be good enough for our teachers. Mr Page's friends should try to help him in some other way than by making a martyr of him. In the speaker's opinion the teaching profession wiould suffer no great loss from the retirement of men who would not take the oath. He moved that the Council should express regret that Mr Page had failed to take the oath of allegiance, but could not see its way to intervene between him and an Act of Parliament. The motion was not seconded.

Mr S. It. Ingold then moved that the Council should pass on to the next business.

This was seconded by the Rev. Samuel Lawry, who expressed the opinion that tho Council had been unfortunate in being led to discuss a personal matter. Mr Page might bo in the right, but tho Council could do no good in interfering in a personal matter of the kind.

The motion was carried on the voices, a considerable number of those present voting against it.