AUCKLAND MEETING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 245, 13 September 1935, Page 16

AUCKLAND MEETING.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT DENIED. AUCKLAND, Sept. 12. A telegram concerning allegations made by the Minister ot Employment, Hon. S*. G. Smith, about the recent meting in the Town Hall, organised by Anglican and Roman Catholic cleigy to protest against present-day social conditions, was sent to-day to Mr M. J. Savage, Leader of the Opposition, l>v Rev. A. J. Greenwood, chairman of the group of clergy. The telegram read as follows: —“Repudiate statement made l>y Smith.” REFERENCE IN HOUSE. WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The information that a telegram had been received by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J• Savage) protesting against remarks made by the Minister of Education (Hon. S. G. Smith) in reference to the clergy who attended the' recent meeting in the Auckland Town Hall, was given by Mr H. G. It. Mason, when speaking in the Addres-in-lteply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Mason said that the opinion expressed bv the Minister that the clergy had been trapped by political campaigners had aroused the greatest indignation in Auckland. Re' - - ~ J. Greenwood had telegraphed Mr Savage absolutely repudiating the suggestion. One wondered why such an allegation had been made against men who felt impelled by the shocking condition of affairs in Auckland to attend a meeting to voice their protest. “I do no more at present, added Mr Mason, “than record the protest of the clergy against the unwarranted statement of the Minister of Education.”

SOCIAL CONDITIONS. ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCHES. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Sept, 12. In matters political an Archbishop cannot speak for the Church, but merely for himself as a citizen, stated Bishop Fitchett. concerning the statements made at the Auckland meeting organised by a group of clergy described as a united protest against unjust and unchristian social conditions. Bishop Fitchett expressed himself incompetent to give an opinion whether the Government had been more successful or less successful than other governments in meeting the depression crisis; but, so far as he could judge, the present conditions here were not worse than in many countries and better than in some. Bishop Fitchett added that destructive criticism was somewhat valueless, and the Auckland meeting did not seem to be able _to suggest constructive measures to bring about what all right-minded people desired.