THE P.P.A.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1708, 24 December 1919, Page 2

THE P.P.A.

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 23. Commenting on the P.l’.A. and the Ay/n----riia election, the Lyttelton limes says: It is now obvious that Awarua was the local centre for tho subterranean activities ol the secret society which calls itself ttfc I rotestant Political Association of New Zealand. We call this precious Association a secret society because to all intents and purposes it is one. We cannot call to mind a single Protestant citizen of any note in the. Jominion who has ever allowed his name to be associated with this organisation. Its avowed purpose is to drag the sectarian squabble, the old, historic, and disreputable brawl of orange and green, into tho polities of the country. do Jiot know all t.iat the Protestant Political Association cud in Awarua, wo have only such evidence as was allowed to appear above the surface.” Tho Times then quotes two advertisements hi tbo Southland Times on December 16 and 17, of which tho latter ran as follows. :■ 'The Protestants of New Zealand are waiting for tho Protestants of Awarua to ddstrov Rome and Wardism in politics by returning a Protestant ” ‘‘lt is not to oiir taste,” adds tho Times, “to comment upon these advertisements. The public cun form their own opinion of thorn. Wo should like to pursue tho mutter a little further by asking if there is a single Protestant in Canterbury who can condone or support such tactics? Wo have burning curiosity ns to tho constitution of this Protestant Political Association, which professes to represent the Protestants of New Zealand. Tho assault on Sir Joseph Ward is bad enough and scurrilous enough in all conrcience, but it pales into insignificance beside the slanderous implication that this soil of thing is done on behalf) of the Protestants of New Zealand.”