“Spanish Government A Disgrace”

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1936, Page 5

“Spanish Government A Disgrace”

—Bishop Brodie

Copyright .] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day OPPOSITION to the proposal to send an ambulance unit from New Zealand to Spain, which emanated from a meeting held in Dunedin under the auspices of the General Spanish Aid Committee, was expressed by Bishop Brodie, Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, at a. public meeting convened last evening by Mr Douglas Kennedy, of Dunedin, to obtain support for the proposal in Christchurch.

I Per Press Association

Bishop Brodie said that the Government of Spain was a disgrace to civilisation, and that it had been marching over Democracy and the religious liberties of a nation before ever General Franco moved a man in his cam-

paign. It had desecrated hundreds of churches and violated religious institutions throughout the country.

Referring to a remark made in support of the proposal, namely, that those who believed in democratic Government and in law and order would be opposed to the military action of a minority in Spain, Bishop Brodie said: “We should be ashamed to mention those names with that of the Spanish Government. lam sorry for Mr Kennedy, but I could show him certified statistics that would make him blush for shame to apply the terms law and order to the Spanish Government.”

Bishop West-Watson, Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, said that any unit sent from New Zealand would come under one or other military authority, and so would help to prolong the war through the assistance it would give.

Finally, a motion was carried approving of the idea of helping the sick and suffering in Spain, and asking the New Zealand Red Cross Society to send a cable to the International Red Cross headquarters, asking if help is needed, and, if so, whether in the form of a medical unit or monetary assistance.