BURYING GROUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 7, 8 July 1940, Page 9

BURYING GROUNDS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—At a meeting of Protestants held in the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church on Thursday evening last, to hear a lecture on "The Scottish Reformation," the enclosed resolution was carried unanimously. The matter referred to is one of great importance, not only as to the effect of the Regulation, but because of the use made of the War Emergency Regulations to bring in an amendment to the Statute which in other circumstances would have had to come .before Parliament and have been subject to criticism and objection. This procedure is, we think, an abuse of the powers of the Government and, if it goes unchallenged, may lead to many other regulations which may in the same fashion introduce highly controversial matters and invade or destroy the right of Parliamentary government and of free criticism. May we ask, therefore, that you will publish the resolution so as to direct public attention to the matter of enactment, as well as to the subject of the enactment. —We are, etc., W. H. KNOX, Chairman. S. G. PALMER, Lecturer. Following is the resolution referred to:— "That this meeting of , Protestant people makes strong protest to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Health, against the regulation 1940/99 recently gazetted, which provides for the establishment of private denominational burying grounds. This protest is made, first, because the present time is a most unfortunate and unfitting time to raise so controversial an issue; secondly, that if stich an enactment was intended, it should have been brought before Parliament when objection could have been made. The method employed has deprived citizens of the right of protest and is a grave abuse of the War Emergency Regulations. Thirdly, that the strongest reasons, based on facts, moral grounds, and the public welfare, exist for opposing the establishment of private sectarian burial grounds. This meeting therefore asks that the Regulation be withdrawn."