PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1919, Page 7

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

{United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 26. Ihe annual Council of the Protestant Political Ac.'o:iation h*s concluded its .sittings.

The discussion of remits was .resumed, and the executive \vu fi instructed to draw up a political platform. The powers of the Vom.uidn executive were enlarged, and the work of organisation, both political and financial, woe ordered to be expedited and completed. A generous l response was made by re-' pvesenta.tiv.es of the various divisions linyuciatly, and a most optimistic tone prevailed. Regarding the suppression of the publication of the religion of convicted; persons, the following motion was pissed: “That this Council directs the attention of the Government to the suppression of the religion of convicted poisons from the Official Year Book, thereby removing from the .people a valuable proof of the superiority and value of the Stiite system of education, as against denominational education, and calls upon) the Government to have these statistics reinitiated, as their removal is without the authority of Parliament and against the interesst of the people.” The Council affirmed the urgent desirability of establishing State orphanages. Another resolution adopted w*>® as follows ;—“Thai this Council unites with the of the .Empire in protesting against the presence of an envoy of the British Government at the Vatican, ns being unconstitutional and an insult to the loyal, Protestants of every Dominion, and that the executive communicate with organisations hroughout the Empire with a view to a strong united protest.” A'further resolution was passed condemning the action-of the Minister of Customs and the Attorney-General in prohibiting the importation of certain Protestant On the subject 01 national education, the following resolution was passed; “That this Council, affirming its appreciation! of and devotion to the present system of free, compulsory, and undenominational education, call® iipon the Government to safeguard its schools by .providing that concessions 'already .made to sectarian schools be withdrawn and no further concessions made, and that the Government support the national .system of education by providing for pupils of State schools a fair proportion of civil service appointments.” It was also resolved, “That an adequate vote (five millions) be provided for tire development of the education system upon modern lines, to enable proper provision to be made for children and adequate remuneration tq_ teachers in keeping with the value and dignity of their calling.”