Rutherford Sect Has Dispensation

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1941, Page 3

Rutherford Sect Has Dispensation

[Per Press Association.—Copyright] WELLINGTON, This Day

Authority for Jehovah’s Witnesses to meet for Bible study, prayer or worship under certain prescribed conditions is contained in a notice published in the Gazette issued yester day. This organisation, or alternatively those known as Witnesses of Jehovah, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, and .the International Bible Students’ Association, were declared subversive organisations on October 21, 1940.

Regulations were also gazetted yesterday providing that 'nn organisation declared to be subversive may be permitted by the Attorney-General to carry on such of its activities as. do not have a subversive tendency, and are not injurious to public safety.

Allowed to Meet

The Attorney-General (Mr Mason) said representations had been made to the Government from time to time that, in suppressing all the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Government was 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 reoresented to t v e Government that there were such innocent activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses that could not be construed as subversive, provision had been mad. 1 for their exercise under certain strict conditions which formed adequate security against mischief. Confined to Adherents

The regulations provide that Jeho, vah’s Witnesses shall not be considered a subversive organisation b they meet for study of the Bible prayer, or worshin. and for no other purpose, and if the meeting held or proposed to be held within r building or tent. No public notice of a meeting or proDOsed meeting is to be given except such as may be permitted by r constable, and. no persons are to 1 present other than members cr former members of any of the said organisations.