EXCLUDING THE CLARION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13206, 13 February 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

EXCLUDING THE CLARION.

CHRTSTOfiUHOH, .January 30. The Canterbury College' Board of Governors to-day received letters from the Socialist- Church, the Socialist party, and the Socialist Education' League, asking why the Clarion had been removed from the library tables, and pointing out that it was the leading Socialist journal and asking for its restoration. Mr (}. W. Russell moved that the request should be not acceded t.o, saying that in < a Christian community public institutions should not afford facilities for an anti-Christian propaganda such iw was found in the Clarion. Dr Talbot and Sir T. AV. Adams opposed the motion, saying one section of the community was entitled to tho same liberty of opinion as any other, and as a matter of equity and right the Clarion should be allowed in the reading room. The Chairman (Mr C. Lewis, U.H.K.) said the Clarion was not conducted in a temperate manner,' and objection was made rather to the manner than to tho matter of its arguments. Bishop Grimes supported the motion on the ground that Hie Christians of the community should be respected. Thoy were moro numerous and important than a small body of Socialists. Messrs C. Opie and T. S. Foster spoke of the necessity for avoiding tyranny by respecting the rights of tho minority in a country wliero no State church existed, tho latter saying the general tono.-of the paper made for morality. Mr Russell, replying, said the widespread circulation of the Clarion would undermine the faith of the people, and the foundation of the British nation was its religion. The voting on the proposal -vas even, and tho Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of oxoluding the Clarion. In doing- so he said the books which had been removed from the library as unfit for circulation • contained nothing worse than he had read in tho ono copy of the Clarion he had seen. That copy would, have pandered to a prurient taste, which the board should not foster.