SALVATION ARMY BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 10

SALVATION ARMY BILL

SELECT COMMITTEE’S REPORT','

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ' ■ ' LONDON, May; 1

A select committee of the House of Commons has been considering the; Salvation Amy Bill.

In his concluding address on behalf of those in support of the Bill, Sir Lyndon Macassey, K.C., stated that General Higgins was • anxious that every facility should be given to those who wished to oppose the Bill to be heard. The “no change ” argument (he proceeded) had been advanced with full sincerity and conviction by opponents of the Bill who took the view that, no matter how urgent might be the need for change, it must not be made if it.involved alteration of a jot or tittle of the deed of 1878. The responsibility for guiding and directing the great organisation of the Salvation Army fell upon the general. Without disparaging the devotion and loyalty of those who petitioned against the Bill, it was not Upon them that the burden of responsibility was imposed, and the committee had heard the view of General Higgins as to the urgent necessity of passing the Bill into law. He had expressed his emphatic that the Bill, if passed, would restore unity to the Army, and that if it were not passed the results to the Array would be disastrous. The purpose of the Bill was not ,to, extend his autocracy, but tp take , from it and to make other provisions for matters over which up to the present time he had had supreme and autocratic power.' PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS ' UNDESIRABLE. At .a later sitting, the chairman (Mr Frank Lee) said the committee had given rather unusual consideration to all sides of the inquiry because of the importance of the religious interests involved, and they wished to express their . thanks to counsel and witnesses on both sides for the restrained way in which the case had been conducted. The preamble of the Bill was. proved in so far as. it provided for the election of the general by the High Council and for the vesting of the property of the Army in a trustee-custo-dian company, but, in reg&rd to the latter, under such conditions as were set out in a new clause which had been submitted or by agreement which would ensure that the trustee company could not be wound up except by the consent of the court. The committee were hopeful that agreement could be arrived ,at between the parties on those lines, and it was for that reason that they gave time ’ for consultation. , ‘ ’ The committee had been greatly impressed and were strongly in accord with the view which was put forward by both sides as to the undesirability of the continuance of the proceedings before Parliament. They also felt that the fixing of the retiring age of the general and the setting up of an arbitration committee ns, between the general and his officeis could be more, suitably dealt with within the existing organisation of the Army. Counsel for petitioners against the Bill then intimated that they would take no part in' the discussion of the clauses. The committee then adjourned, and met later for the adjustment of clauses. 1 The Bill was ordered for report and third reading. . - l: :