THE ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 May 1914, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS

COMPLSCATSNG FACTORS. BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS OIIGANISA- I TION. PLUS THOUSAND VOTE CAMPAIGN. (By Telegraph—Special to the. Star) WELLINGTON, This Day. A statement upon the Bible-in-Schools Organisation made by Canon Garland, chief organiser to the Central Committee, suggests to me that the forthcoming politica struggle is likely to be complicated to an extent highly embarrassing to candidates, who naturally wish to secure a verdict upon issues submitted by the parties now represented in Parliament. Canon Garland summarised his forces by declaring that the churches which speak for 74 per cent, of the population had had their action endorsed by their representative governing ln addition 140,000 electors had become members of the League by signing a request for a referendum on the League's proposals. As to an interesting point raised by the League's opponents in connection with these cards, Canon Garland, though suggesting that the critics were making an incredible reflection upon the. intelligence of those had signed added : "The League is quite prepared to cancel the membership of any person who, having previously signed the- card, signifies in writing a desire to withdraw from membership and, without making any reflection, will consider such, person as entitled to change his or her opinion." The referendum, he oointed 'out, would provide a way of ascertaining public feeling absolutely safe from the possibility of misrepresentation. H the League's opponents prevented this referendum being taken they would simply force the question before the electors in such a prominent fashion that-it would outweigh political party questions,' and even overshadowed other questions. The League had in a short time tallied the majority of Christian congre-. gtations around it, acquired an individual membership of 140.000 and had in active operation 465 committees from north to south of the Dominion. When to the Bible-in-Schools effort the prohibition thousand vote campaign ;s added it will be seen that unfortunate election candidate's are to have imposed upon them this time a formidable set of confusing issues.