NEW HALF-CROWNS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 68, 13 December 1933, Page 10

NEW HALF-CROWNS

Complaint by Auckland Clergyman 'f NO REFERENCE TO GOD The omission of any reference to God and of the words “fidel defensor” from the Inscription on the New Zealand half-crowns was recently criticised by an Auckland clergyman, the Rev. P. N. Knight. In a reply made last evening the Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. A. D. Park, pointed out that the Royal style and title on the new coins had been specially approved by his Majesty the King. ‘‘The English coin,” said Mr. Knight, "states that George V Is King ‘del gratia,’ by the grace of God. The New Zealand coin declares him King without any reference to God at all, yet Kings rule and Dominions prosper, and we all live and move and have our being by the grace of God. Why should we refuse to acknowledge this?" He went on to condemn the omission of the words “fidel defensor,” defender of the faith. “Having removed all reference to God’s grace and the accepted faith of the Empire,” he said, “the coin presents us as objects of loyalty with two Maori tikis, hideous forms, with their tongues hanging out.” Mr. Park said that as the designs of the coins were executed and approved in London he had had inquiries made at the Royal Mint to ascertain, the reason for the alteration. He had been advised that his Majesty the King had specially approved the form of the Royal style and title and of the words being shown in English on all new Dominion coins. The Southern Rhodesian coins were similar, and. in fact Australia was the only Dominion with coins displaying the full style and title in Latin. ( “There is no reason to suppose thht the inclusion of the Maori tikis in'the design is indicative of a lack of religious faith in New Zealand,” remarked Mr. Park. “This form of ornamentation merely embodies a distinctive feature peculiar to the Dominion coinage.”