JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24460, 20 November 1940, Page 8

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

REASON FOR BAN: PROVOCATIVE ACTIVITY RIGHT TO WORSHIP RETRIED (Per Unite? Press Association? -' .• '■-'.. .WELLINGTON, Nbv; 49. ■•'The Government has not interfered in any. way with the right of the,people to i according to their religious beliefs and conscience," said the. Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser). when his-v attention was drawn in an interview--to-night to the cable message from Sydney stating that the headquarters- ■of Jehovah's Witnesses for Australia .and New Zealand had sent a cablegram?to the King, protesting at the ban imposed On the organisation by' the New;-Zea-land-Government. ■■'■"'• - '■ "If the body called;, Jehovah's Witnesses would confine themselve? to ordinary religious observance like 'the churches and- other religious they would have full liberty, to do. so, and there would be no interference with them whatever," Mr Fraser said. " The - difficulties in i New Zealand, however, arose through .Jehovah's 'Witnesses .constituting themselves a propaganda body against other churches|and thereby causing widespread ill -feeling, resentment, .and bitterness which 'has resulted in • at. least .one unfortunate •incident ; ih' this country. Such provocative conduct .and- incitement would be inimic'aL at- -any Hinie and 'cannot ;• be tolerated during wartime, .when .; the greatest amount ;of 'unity .and cooperation; among .members of all-re-Ugious faiths is essential. ?' There 'lias .been no .interf eren ce with the" right to worship," 1 Mr 'Fraser added, "but there -has been a prohibition imposed- on'the dissemination- of literature and tither propaganda directed against religious /organisations." '■■'■■?-'"■' ■■' ■■■'-- •''■■• •..'.'-■•'--V "' '"- ■' '*r"l ; '