JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 25 October 1940, Page 2

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

ORGANISATION BANNED DECLARED TO BE SUBVERSIVE [United Press Association] WELLINGTON, This Day. Last night’s issue of the “Gazette” contains a notice by the AttorneyGeneral declaring Jehovah’s Witnesses to be a subversive organisation for the purposes of the Public Safety Emergency Regulations. The effect of this is to make it an offence to use or permit any premises to be used for the purpose of the organisation, or to put up any signs or organise or address any meetings for any such purpose, or to participate in, aid or encourage in any way the organisation’s continuance, activities or objects, or by any badge, uniform, banner or other means identify oneself with it or express one’s approval of it.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S COMMENTS

Commenting on the notice, the Attorney-General, Mr Mason, stated last evening that Jehovah’s Witnesses had come under unfavourable observation for some time past. Their propaganda appeared to be devoted wholly to vilification. This vilification was directed toward two objects, one being the religion of their fellow citizens, the other being the State and Government. Under each heading the propaganda was clearly subversive. It tended to disrupt national unity and destroy national morale at a time when the nation was fighting for life. In addition to the names Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Witnesses of Jehovah, the organisation had been known by the names International Bible Students’ Association and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and these latter names were still commonly used to describe the publishers of its literature, said Mr Mason. It would now be an offence to circulate any of this literature. Some few months ago the Government, recognising the mischievous nature of the literature circulated by Jehovah’s Witnesses, took steps to prevent its further importation. It had become clear that a quicker method of putting an end to their activity was expedient, and the present notice would secure that effect.

Returns showing the numbers of adherents to various beliefs were compiled by the Census and Statistics Department from information obtained at the 1936 census in New Zealand, and these show there were at that time 428 members of the sect known as Jehovah’s Witnesses (218 males and 210 females). This number represents 0.03 of the population. In addition 22 Maoris were recorded as followers of the sect.

Action was taken in Canada some months ago to declare the organisation known as Jehovah’s Witnesses illegal.

The Premier of New South Wales, Mr Mair, said on 14th October, in the Legislative Assembly of that State, that he believed that the organisation known as Jehovah’s Witnesses was definitely disloyal to the interests of Australia, was anti-British, and was a disruptive element to the community, according to a report published in the following day’s issue of the “Sydney Morning Herald.” Mr Mair said that he was asking the State Attorney-General. Sir Henry Manning, if the Commonwealth Government did not declare the organisation an illegal body, to consider whether the State Government had power to legislate to control it.