SCOTTISH HOME RULE.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19400, 28 August 1928, Page 8

SCOTTISH HOME RULE.

CANTERBURY ORGANISATION FORMED. PARLIAMENT? AT EDINBURGH ? At a numerously attended meeting, held last night in. the hall of Trinity Conoregational Church, the Canterbury j Branch of the Scottish Home Kule Association was formed. The Rev. 1. W. ( Armour presided. The meeting opened with the singing of "Scots Wha Hae" ■ by Mr A. Mcyuarne. •The chairman expressed satisfaction with the attendance and said tnat it must be a matter of gratification to Se alma mater of. Scottish tradition , in christcimrch, Miss" Jessie .vlackay. Mr Armour spoKe at some length on , the disadvantages under which the , neople of Scotland laboured in respect of legislation, owing to the House of Commons being unaule to devote more than two or three days each year to the discussion of Scottish anairs. 11ns, he said, had led to an impossible situation and the girding of toe spirit of a progressive people lite the Soots. Those in Scotland working for Home ilule would have their bands upluted and strengthened by knowing that Scots m New Zealand were.'as keen as they were in the Homeland that Scotland should be free. (Applause.) _ Mr M. J. Burns, speaking as a Colonial Scot, dealt with the question from the constitutional aspect, emphasising the fact that the Imperial Parliament was overwhelmed by the Imperial and domestic matters it was caliecl upon to deal with. Unlike the Irish, Mr Bums said, the Soots did not demand secession; all they wanted was the opportunity to tackle their national problems in their own way. Mr J. Forbes said that the demand for Scottish Home Rule was at first looked upon as a joke at "Westminster, then it became a nuisance, and now rapidly was becoming a menace. They wanted a Parliament established in Edinburgh in order to avoid the absurd things that now took place, and to retain in Scotland moneys that ought never to have left it. He urged that the movement should be kept clear of Party politics | Messrs R. M. Spiers and Donald Grant also spoke. Mr J. S. Chisholm, chief of the Scottish Society, moved: "That the Canterbury, New Zealand, Branch of the Scottish Home.Rule Association be formed." The Rev. Gardner Miller seconded, and the motion, after a brief discussion, was agreed to. The constitution of the branch was adopted Officers were elected as follows: — Chairman, Rev. T. W. Armour; joint secretaries, Miss Jessie Mackay and Mr Donald Grant; treasurer, Mr J. Forbes; committee, Rev. Gardner Miller, Messrs C. S. Thomas, J. S. Chisholm, John Sutherland, A. McQuarrie, M. J. Burns, and P. Thomson, and the officers of the branch. , A vote appreciative of the services rendered to the movement by Miss Jessie Mackay was carried by acclamation. " Scottish songs were given by Miss Down and Mr P. Thomson. The accompaniments were played by Mrs AMcQuarrie.