LOYAL ORANGE LODGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 12

LOYAL ORANGE LODGE.

ASHBURTON, April 19. The annual session of the Provincial Grand Chapter of New Zealand, Loyal Orange Lodge, opened in the Orange Hail on Thursday, and continued yesterday and to-day, delegates attending from all parts of the dominion. The reports showed that, despite the dislocation caused by the war and the heavy drain on the manhood, the membership and finances of the preceptories were well maintained. Respecting banned literature, an Auckland delegate stated that between £SO and £IOO had been withheld by the Customs. It was unanimously resolved that the Grand Provincial Chapter record their protest against the arbitrary and partial exercise of their powers by the National Government in the interests of tho Roman Church by the prohibition of the importation and circulation of loyal patriotic Protestant literature. If this prohibition continues this chapter must regard the action of the Government as contrary to the traditions of our Protestant country and subversive of those groat principles of liberty upon which our Empire was founded, and without precedent in the Empire since the Star Chamber of execrable fame. The chapter therefore call on the Government to remove the prohibition and to administer the law with impartiality to all sections of the community. A vigorous .protest against Home Rule and Sinn Feinism was also passed.