SUNDAY PARADES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23714, 12 August 1942, Page 4

SUNDAY PARADES

CRITICISM BY OAMARU PRESBYTERY

(0.R.) OAMARU, August 11. Criticism of week-end parades by the Home Guard together with alternative suggestions were made at a meeting today of the Oamaru Presbytery. These were contained in the following motion moved by the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh: “The Oamaru Presbytery, in laying the following considerations before the responsible authorities, affirms its earnest desire to do all in its power in support of the war effort in every direction that will help the Empire’s cause. To this end it respectfully suggests that there are weighty reasons against the prevalent practice of week-end camps and Sunday parades for the Home Guard. The tremendous drain by the armed forces on manpower has laid a great burden on those left to carry on business and essential services. The Presbytery suggests that to deprive Home Guardsmen of their weekly day of rest is not in the best interests either of military efficiency or of public welfare. A whole day’s parade on Saturday, or occasionally on Monday, would prove a relief to all concerned. In pleading public welfare rather than religious sanctions as a reason against Sunday parades, the Presbytery is not unmindful of its obligations to safegard the moral and spiritual standards of the nation. It takes this opportunity to point out that the churches have suffered more than any institution or business through the calling up of voluntary workers, and Sunday schools and Bible classes are in many cases deprived of leadership to such an extent that the work is not only unduly impaired, but tends to cease altogether in some quarters.

"The increase in juvenile delinquency, attributed partly to the absence of fathers on active service, is a strong argument against Sunday parades which prevent Sunday schools and Bible classes from carrying on their most important work. These considerations by no means exhaust the caseagainst the continued and increasing inroads on the weekly day of rest but they are such as should command the earnest attention of Home Guard authorities.” The motion was carried unanimously, end it was also agreed that copies should be sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, and the local Home Guard authorities.