P.P.A. CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9955, 26 April 1918, Page 2

P.P.A. CONFERENCE

CONCLUSION OP BUSINESS,

Tie Protestant Political Association concluded thou- couiorcnce ycstuimay. Tne proceedings were Held in commii/.ee ana tne following particulars were supplied by ilr J. -U- li.iLSj.eU, tne accredited reporter to the conference: — It was unanimo usiy resolved as follows :—“The Protestant Political Association, representative of New Zealand Proestant opinion, in conference assembled, enters its strong protest against the action of tile lion, tne minister for Customs in prohibiting certain Protestam publications from entering New Zealand. An invidious distinction has thereby been made in the interests of the Roman Catholic Church. The literature in question was not intended for public sale, but for private distribution amongst Protestant people. Its seizure can only be regarded as being in the interests of one section of the community. This action by a Minister of the Crown is an indefensible invasion of the liberty of the press, and of the rights of Protestants, and is calculated to raise the gravest concern for liberty in New Zealand. And we call upon the Cabinet ■ to restore the public confidence in tin safety of our liberties in the hands ot the National Government.’ - The question of a 'Dominion membership campaign was dealt with, and resulted in a motion being unanimously carried that the conference pledges itself to assise the movement in every possible way. .

■ The conference also, by unanimous resolution, approved of the proposal to raise a sum of .8100,000 for propaganda purposes. The report of the newspaper committee was dealt. with at length. It was decided' that fho question be remitted to the Dominion executive. ' If was -unanimously resolved‘'That the warmest thanks of this conference be given to the Eev. Thomas Miller, M.A.. of Feilding, for' his magnificent utterance at the Town Hall last, night; We rejoice in the outspoken and. fearless manner in which the reverend" gentleman dealt with his subject, and trust that he may .be greatly used in the P.P.A. campaign.’’ In acknowledging the compliment, Mr Miller expressed his great pleasure tha l he had become actively associated with such a live organisation as the Protestant Political Association. Hearty thanks were accorded to the retiring treasurer. Mr E. Budden, and to Mr J. Aston, for making the arrangements in connection with the Town Hall meeting, held the previous evening. Appreciative motions, recognising -the services of the president. Mr A. Donald. and Mr H. G. Bilby. Dominion, secretary, were heartily agreed to. The conference expressed its sense of the conspicuous ability, and ■ devotion to the Protestant Association shown by its national lecturer, the Bov. Howard Elliott. Mr" Elliott, in reply, thanked thconference for its vote of appreciation and confidence, and he had his reward in the fact that the association had already become an influential factor in the Dominion. v Appreciation of the very excellent renorts of the conference, and tb« nubile meetings associated with it published by the .Wellington .newspapers was placed on record. The conference was closed by the singing of - the Doxology.