A BACK SEAT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19851, 12 February 1930, Page 7

A BACK SEAT.

PRESBYTERY INDIGNANT. FAREWELL TO GOVERNORGENERAL. Indignation was expressed at tde meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery yesterday concerning the failure of those controlling the civic farewell to the Governor-General, held at the Municipal Concert Chamber .otr January 16th, to set aside a special place for a representative of the Presbyterian Church. MY W. H. Rose stated that he was present at the function,. and that he had observed on the platform representatives of the Church of. England and of the Roman Catholic Church, but could see no representative of the Presbyterian Church. As it happened, the Moderator of the Presbytery, the Rev. J. Miller, was occupying nn obscure place on the platform, but no special provision had been made for him. "The position was extraordinary," said Mr Rose, "in view of the fact that the Governor-General is.a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and has always identified himself very doselv with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand during his term of office. At least the same consideration should have been shown I to the Presbyterian Church as to any other.' 1 The Rev. T. Paterson said that any | Church should be given equal ■ representation at such a function, in any community where no Church had State connexion, and if any preference was given it should be to the two representatives of -the national Churches—t;> the Church of England and to the Church of Scotland. The incident was a slight on the Presbyterian Church. The Moderator,-the Rev. J. .Miller, stated that he personally was disinclined to take any action in the matter, but at the time he had felt neglected in being relegated to a back seat. The lack of special provision in this matter was a slight to the Gover-nor-General as well as to the Church. It was decided unanimously to put the .matter before the Mayor, and to 'ask him to see that in future the I'rosbvterian Church was given equal rights on such occasions.