Oppose Government On ‘Moral Grounds’

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1948, Page 5

Oppose Government On ‘Moral Grounds’

DUNEDIN, Tue. (P.A.),—Protesting against the Licensing Bill, the secretary of the district executive of the Methodist Church in Otago and Southland (the Rev. L. A. Greenslade) has sent the following telegram to the acting Prime Minister j!Mr Nash): “The district executive of the Methodist Chui'ch in Otago and Southland, representing 2500 adult members, instructs me to protest strongly against the proposed licensing legislation, particularly concerning the King Country. “We believe the proposed action violates the integrity of the Crown. “Your action compels the churches to oppose your Government on moral grounds and we urge postponement of the bill.”

The chairman of the Otago and Southland district of the Methodist Church (the Rev. E. J. D. Hickman) has also sent the following telegram to Mr Nash:

“Methodists in Otago and Southland oppose the Licensing Bill. It violates British integrity. jit breaks faith with the Maoris. It gives concessions to the trade with a mandate from the electors and no opportunity is given for full discussion. We request delay of the bill until next session.” BAPTIST PROTEST The central auxiliary of the Baptist Union of New Zealand sent a resolution to Mr Nash and Mr Holland expressing its “deep concern at the man-, ner in which so many of the fundamental findings of the Royal Commission on Licensing are disregarded by the Licensing Amendment Bill.”

It adds that it believed that the haste with which it was intended to put this measure through indicated lack of appreciation of the seriousness of the issues at stake.