PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12084, 22 June 1920, Page 4

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

MEETING AT MARTON. There was a good attendance at the Town Hall, Marton, la3t evening, when socue very interesting facts in connection with tlrs Association were given by Mr Laws, secretary of the Wanganui hranch, and Rev. Howard Elliott. Mr P. Beard presided, and introduced the speak ers, who were each accorded a splendid hearing. Proceedings opened and terminated with the singing of the National Anthem. Mr Laws stated that the Association stood for all that was best in politics, and that was the extent of their arena. There was wo efnl ignorance among Protestants of the work the Komanists had been doing in this country. The Catholic Federation had been formed allegedly for furthering Catholic education and censoring picture films. It had not gone in much for films, and in referring to advantages it had gained ir> educational matters, he mentioned that Nuns had been able to obtain free passes on the railways which were deniedjjto State toacliers. He claimed that the Romanists had been able to affect the course of justice, and that Protestauta had missed many facts. He quoted t he Greymouth embezzlement case, the postal inquiry, and the Auckland and Feilding assault cases. The verdicts given lent colour to the statement that there was one law foe Roman Catholics and one for Protestants. The P.P. A. stood for equal rights for all and they were going to have them. (Applause). It was said that Rome was able to control the press of the British Empire and it was more or less true. Every act of I Popery was glorified and magnified, but it was only with difficulty the voice of Protestanism was heard.* Rome had a method of controlling the press of the British Empire, not excepting New Zealand. The Press dwed its position to Protestantism. He referred to the state of darkness which prevailed consequent upon sacerdotalism in 1861 and the abolition of censorship by William! of Orange, and the Education Act passed in 1870, finally abolishing Roman hindrance to education, and by which tens of millions were given the privilege of reading, and yet the Press were prepared to flout Protestantism and be the toolu of the force which had kept the world in darkness. Thß speaker referred to the military censorship of Box 912, Auckland, and also to the barring out of Protestant literature during the war. Why was R.O. literature not barred? Why was Rome allowed to issue seditious literature during the war ? He read a quotation of utterances made by Rev. Father O'Donnell, and it showed an important need for Protestant organisation. Referring to an alteration in the Education Act he pointed out that at one time grants to denominational schools were referred by the Minister to the Boards, and then the power reverted to the Minister, who handed out 18 grants to denominational schools, 14 of which were Catholic. Figures relating to crime in Roman Catholicism had ceased to appear in statistics. They totalled 14 per cent, of the population and crimes amounted to 34 per cent. The speaker referred to a large school in Westport. The R. C. had started a school and the other school immediately lost a number of pupils and four teachers, and was reduced in grade and pay. Those wishing to travel to the R.O. school were granted tree passes on the railways, but those attending the State school were not, although travelling on the same train. This was not equal rights for all and special for none. The P.P. A. wanted nothing that was not just or right. He reminded his hearers that their forefathers, the Covenanters, fought and died for liberty and they should help that these rights be not filched away. (Applause). The Rev. Howard Elliott, who was greeted witu applause, prefaced his remarks by stating that during the past 2% years he had attended between eight and r.ine hundred meetings, addressed some 200,000 people and travelled 54,000 miles. For some years, he said, Shere had been - growing opinion among thoughtful men and women that Protestants would have to stand to* gether. The Catholic Federation was a compact body tending in politics to isolate themselves without considering the Fortestants, and they swaved Parliament. Rome was behind the war, and when they rocogniaed the malign and sinister influence of Rome in politics it was time for Protestants to combine and claim their privileges and be masters in their own country. Some said it was such a pity to ttir up sectarian strife, and there were people who said "Oh, let's have peace!" They would not stir up anything. The Catholic Federation came into existence in 1912, and was organised throughout the war. Three yeara later the P.P. A. came into existence. When the Catholic Federation came"in said they were bigot's, but as soon as the Protestant Association was organised it was denounoed as a crying shame. The speaker read the platform of the Association, showing they stood for God and Country and equal rig hts Tor all. They did not wish to deny Roman Catholics the right of their Church or equal privileges. Referring to the influx of Hindus and other races into New Zealand, he hoped there would not be too many of them, not that he had not sufficient respect for them, but black and white did not mix, and we did not want the same troubles here as in America. But he pointed out that New Zealand was a free country in which man could worship God after his own fashion. The P. P. A. had nothing to do with the suppression of the Roman Catholic Church or its people, but he maintained that that. Church had a two-fold purpose—' spiritual and political—and was using her religious influence for political purposes the world over. There was nothing personal in any - thing he might say in regard to Roman Catholicism. The fact which warranted the existence of the P. P. A. was not connfied only to New Zealand. The Pope and the Kaiser were friends and he would like to show how war wi»s caused with Germany at a later date in Marton. (Applause). The Association was growing in Canada, South Africa and Australia. He referred to the hard struggles of the early Canadian settlers, and their love of liberty, and to the fight of Cromwell's Ironsides for religious freedom, sweeping away Popery. The P.P. A. 1 -was organised to call them to Stand

shoulder to chonldor in thsir loyalty to New Zealand, the Empire" and trust in God. Sir Joseph had been worth £200,000 to Roman Catholicism, which he saved in rates. * A fact which called for Protestant organisation was that Rome condemned public schools as unwholesome, unhealthy and immoral, and that the system was not the true baeis of citizenship, but, said the speaker, we get it all right when it comes to fighting tor Empire and small nations. Roman Catholics asked to be allowed to build their own schools and then they wanted us to pay for them. He maintained it was costing £121,000 per annum for these feohools in which they never sing the National Autnem, salute the Union Jack or observe Empire Day or King's Birthday. They were taught to despise the Empire in this country. From fifteen to sixteen thousand was spent on them by Protestants ot this country carryius their school children. Rome was thos getting an endowment tor her schools. The Association was going to ask that free passes for denominational schools be abolished, and 'that they be free for State schools only. Rome had £774,000 which should pay £30,000 to £35,000 in rates, and this had been going on for 20 years. Wa* it fair that Rome, anti-British, antipatriotic, should not pay rates'? He referred to the domination of Rome in the civil service, aud said she was soeking through the Federation to get men in positions and ride in on the back of labour. He had complete sympathy with sane labour, which was going to govern Australia, New Zealand and Englaud in a few years. The Association was utterly opposed to Red Fed aud Bolshevism. Russia was to have been saved by Bolshevi3m. Did they want to encourage Bolshevism in Marton ? They wanted to maintain the prosperity of New Zealand, not on Bolshevist lines, but on justice and freedom. He asked his hearers to join the Association in order to aos together in improving things in Marton and New Zealand, and make it a better place to live in. The Association had now 250 branches with votes of 200,000 people. He concluded by reminding them they had a heritage worth fighting for and worth living for, and that was what the Association utood for. Th® speaker sat down amidst applause.

Votes of tliankH were acaorded the speakers and chairman, and at the conclusion of the meeting a number handed in their names as members.