PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 6

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

MEETING AT LOWER HUTT.

The Rev. Howard JSlliott addressed a well-attended meeting of Protestants at the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, last evening. Mr. William Nicol occupied the chair. The speaker said the movement was not going hack. During the two years the P.P.A. had existed 200 branches had been formed, some of which had a. membership of 4000 and others 50. During the last fortnight four new groups bad been formed near Wellington. The Roman mena<;e in New Zealand was a very real one. The P.P.A. desired to interfere only where the Roman Catholic Church used its organisation for political purposes. One great menace was the Ne Tetnere decree, which sought to override the marriage laws of New Zealand and declare no marriage legal and sacred unless performed by a Roman Catholic priest. The decree sought to destroy Protestant marriage and brand with shame the issue of such marriage. The New Zealand Government had kept silent while the decree which declined its own law null and void wasbrou ,-it irto operation. No law should be allowe. to operate which was contrary to the law of New Zealand. The political parties in New Zealand were dealt with by the speaker, who emphasised that Protestants were in a vast majority and should make their power unitedly felt. None of the present parties was worthy ■of support. The extreme Labour Party was disloyal, . and law-abiding, people could not v consent to- be governed by men who" practically supported a Bolshevik platform. The P.P.A. could not stand for revolution and atheism. It was 'prepared to support sane Labour candidates. . ;i .-

During the evening duets were given by Messrs. Orr and Sawders, a song by Mr. Orr, and a recitation by Mrs. Robertson. ,•■ -