THE DECLARATION OATH

Evening Star, Issue 14035, 16 April 1909, Page 6

THE DECLARATION OATH

MUSI NOT BE ALTERED. THE ORANGE PROGRAMME. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, April 16. (Received April 16, at 9.55 a.m.) The session of the Loyal Orange Grand Council of Australasia has closed. Affiliation with the New Zealand Grand Lodge was affirmed, and a resolution carried .strongly protesting against the King's Declaration Oath being altered in any way by the Imperial Parliament. A comprehensive political programme was adopted. It includes an effective subsidy to the British Navy, adequate harbor and coast defence,, a citizen soldiery, and universal training, a fixed fiscal policy, the betterment of the economic .and social and domestic conditions of all wage-earners, the total abolition of sweating" an adequate living wage, co-operation of Labor and Capital in production and distribution, preferential trade within the Empire by the creation of a representative council to deal with matters of Imperial concern. The general aims of the body are stated to be to oppose any form of Socialism that is opposed to Christianity, to oppose any action making for the disintegration of theEmpire, the preservation of State rights, and the rigid exclusion from the Civil administration of all denominational recognition and influence. The Orange lodges are to be turned into politcal leagues, on similar lines to Labor leagues, and to undertake propaganda work and to select parliamentary candidates.