RELIGION IN ELECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 103, 5 May 1925, Page 7

RELIGION IN ELECTIONS

10 THE BDITOR,

. (l Sir.—l agree with your correspondent ■ Fair Play" that the great majority of people do not wish religion to be introduced into politics, but I am prompted to write because I voted against Mr. Len M'Kenzie solely because he was on the P.P.A. ticket, which he how repudiates. lam sorry for him. Although I have no particular religious views, I, like others, object to this dragging o£ religion into the political, municipal, and business life of the community. I therefore did what many usually do ; I cut the P.P.A. list out of the newspaper and brought it into the polling booth and voted against every name on it.

I am a New Zealander, and a- member of th e Government service, arid we detest this religious business. A man in authority or in charge of a Government office who would allow religious or political bias to interfere with his duties would bo promptly '.'counted out" by his staff Hence you see this P.P.A. election business is repugnant to a large body of •citizens. Again, anyone appearing as a- P.P.A. nominee has immediately a block vote of several thousands thrown against him. Intelligent readers know what I refer to. This no doiibt showed itself in the Mayoral contest, as Mr. Norwood's polling of 13,000 votes, in a, single-handed fight, in a big city like Wellington, is not so representative of the people as it should be. I know some who abstained from voting as they did not wish to vote Labour, and they objected to Mr. Norwood's "endorsement" by the* P.P.A. Of course, the majority of the public do not take the association seriously, but it has poked its nose into so many things in New Zealand that intelligent and broadminded people object to its tactics. I can quite understand Mr. M'KunKie's feelings, but I hope it will be a lesson for all in.future. Another point, Sir, is this: There are instances where this religious issue has interfered with the business affairs of citizens, whose names on occasions have been put on the ticket referred to without their consent. An injustice has thus been done and they have had to pay the penalty lor the association's action. Where will this interfering with the free exercise of the vote stop? There i* nothing in law to *,-event half a, dozen men _ styling fhe.^lves -The ..British Empire Protection League"' and running

a ticket. Imagine a dialogue after an election; the president and secretary approaching the Mayor with: "Mr. Mayor, we congratulate you; we put you in." The Mayor: "Thanks, gentlemen. How many are in your league?" The president: "Oh, about 50,000." "But," says the Mayor (with a twinkle in his eye), "there are not that many votes altogether." "Oh, Mr. Mayor, we don't mind, er, telling you confidentially that, er, some of us are on twice !" And so impressions would be intended that this half-dozen man-power league was a strong body! Carrying it into politics, the question of price would soon creep in. No doubt the president and secretary of the half-dozen league would look for seats in the Upper House, while the other four would want to become J.lVs. Citizens, stop it!—l am. etc., ■ ■

FREE VOTEK

4th May.