Jehovah’s Witnesses May Meet for Worship

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 109, 9 May 1941, Page 6

Jehovah’s Witnesses May Meet for Worship

NEW REGULATIONS ISSUED Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Alay 8. Authority for Jehovah’s Witnesses to meet for study of the Bible, prayer or worship under certain prescribed conditions is contained in a notice published in the Gazette issued to-day. This organisation or alternatively those known as the Witnesses of Jehovah, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and the International Bible Students’ Association, were declared subversive organisations on October 21, 1940. Regulations were also gazetted to-day providing that an organisation declared to be. subversive may be permitted by the Attorney-General to carry on such of its activities that do not have a subversive tendency and are not injurious to the public safety. An explanation of the notice and regulations was given by the AttOrnevGeneral (Hon. H. G. R. Afason) in an interview this evening. He said Jehovah’s Witnesses were declared & subversive organisation because those activities they indulged in which came under public notice were of that nature. Representations had been made to the Government from time to time that in supressing all the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses the Government wag interfering with the right to meet for worship, prayer and Bible study. Needless to say the Government never had any intention of restricting these rights if exercised without detriment to the community. As it had been represented to the Government that there were such innocent activities of Jehovah's Witnesses that could not be construed as subversive, provision had been made for their exercise under certain strict conditions which formed adequate security against mischief. Tho regulations authorised issue of the notice which had been made and gazetted which provided that Jehovah’s Witnesses shall not be considered as being a subversive organisation if they meet for study of the Bible, prayer or worship and for no other purpose, and if all the following conditions were complied with: (a) That the meeting is held or proposed to be held witltfn a buiding or tent; (b) that no public notice of the meeting or proposed meeting is given except such as may be permitted bv a constable; (c) that the meeting is not commenced or continued or proposed to be commenced or continued if any persons are present thereat other than members or former of any of the said organisations.

“The careful compliance with these conditions,” said Air. Alason, 4 * will ensure that innocent observances of religion shall not be denied these people, but on the other hand shall not become an occasion for anything mischievous. One need hardly say that there will be no lack of alertness on the part of the authorities to see that the prescribed conditions are observed.”'