SECTARIANISM

Southland Times, Issue 18975, 23 June 1923, Page 5

SECTARIANISM

HON. G. J. ANDERSON’S STRONG DISAVOWALS. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, June 28. During a somewhat dull discussion, thf House was stirred by an angry retort by the Minister of Labour to a reference by the member for Nelson, to the effect of sectarianism on the recent election at Tauranga. The Hon. Mr Anderson indignantly denied that the Government was in any way associated with the P.P.A. or its activities. The defeat of Sir Joseph Ward at Awarua was, he said, due in only a small measure to the influence of sectarianism. Any statement to the contrary was incorrect. “I would use a stronger term but that I know that you, Mr Speaker, would call me to order. I am a Southlander and I know the facts and I said so at the time. He said that the Rev. Howard Elliott had during the Coalition Government been organising in the interests of this party. That statement is quite contrary to facts. This party has never had anything to do with Mr Howard Elliott.” (Cries of Oh! from opposition members). When the Hon. Gentleman says that Mr Elliott and his Association, I suppose he means the Protestant Political Association published the names of members who were to be supported. I know that in my case, I did not know about it until the advertisement appeared in the papers.” Opposition members: Did you refute it? The Minister: “No. What can a man do when a man outside his party puts his name up? I don’t approve of clerical or sectarian influence in elections. I condemn what led up to this position. The members know that a federation was established recently, established in my opinion to the detriment of the people who established it.