POLITICAL TRAP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 244, 12 September 1935, Page 7

POLITICAL TRAP.

MINISTER’S OPINION. OF AUCKLAND MEETING. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 11. “Trapped by political camapigners” was the opinion expressed by Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Employment, regarding the Auckland clergymen who, under tlie presidency of Archbishop Averill, attended the meeting which passed resolutions calling attention to the chronic poverty and distress in the Dominion and expressing no confidence in the Government. Mr Smith had heard Mr W. J. Jordan, the Auckland Labour member, stress the significance of this meeting, suggesting ttiat tlie clergy had no confidence in the Government, and the Minister, during the course of the most vigorous speech heard from the Government benches this session, asked who passed the resolutions. Only 2000 out ot Auckland’s large population attended, he said, and Communists and anti-Governnient supporters would walk dozens of miles to get the opportunity of passing resolutions condemning tlie Government. “Purely party tactics,” commented the Minister, “and I am sorry the clergy have been trapped into that.” Though there were 4000 unemployed in Wellington, he continued, onlv three eases of distress were quoted bv the clergy. There were people in unfortunate circumstances iong before New Zealand had unemployment. We had had 2000 years of Christianity, too, and here was the Opposition trying to put tlie blame for poverty and want of ihrift on the Government. “It won’t wash,” declared Air Smith emphatically. He said lie was sorry he was not present at the Auckland meeting, for lie would not have been surprised to find amongst the audience a <'ood crowd of the anti-God people of which there was a group in Auckland cheering on the clergy ro attack the Government.