WAIRARAPA PRESBYTERY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11976, 13 May 1914, Page 2

WAIRARAPA PRESBYTERY.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The Wnirarnpa Presbytery met yesterday afternoon at Knox Hull, Mas terton. The Key. Lawrence ThonijiKon (Moilerator) presidod, and there, were present: Th<> Keys. Al. H. Harris (Pahiatuu), T. llallnlay (Lanwdowne), <■!. K. StowelJ (Featherston), E. (!. Tennant (Marti)iborougli ), A. T. Tho!iipson (Knox Church, ilasterton), Messrs Bloomfield and Hudson (Homo Missionaries), and Messrs Aitcheson, M.unro, and (elders).

I The Hey. A. T. Thopinson, (Jliaplain for the Presbytery to the Wairarapa Territorials, jjuve a short account of.' his stay in thtj recent camj> at Taka-j-aii. lie s]ioke or the- threat kindiiesrf shown to him by the oilicers and the men, and said the marquee erected by the Presbytery was much appreciated, as books, writing paper, newspapers, and "fames of all sorts were provided. The religious services and the Bible classes lie conducted were well attended. The report of the Temperance Committee was received, and the Presbytery urged "that, in view of the approaching licensing poll, the people should support local no-licensee and national prohibition." • The following motion was also carried unanimously:—"That this meeting of the Wairarapa Presbytery pledges itself to support the platform of the Bible-in-Schools League, agreed upon by successive General Assemblies oj. the Church, and requests a referendum of the whole people of the Dominion be taken upon the question. This meeting expresses the convict'oi) that, inasmuch as the referendum Iris been repeatedly requested by the respective governing courts of four denominations, roprcsentin." 75 per cent, ol the population, which request lv.is been reiterated by the constituencies of those denominations, and further endorsed by request in writing, signed by upwards of L' 57,000 individual electors, the Government is more tlri.ii .imply justified in facilitating the. wishes of such a large proportion of the people. Moreover, as the request jh not asking the Government to decide on the merits of the League 'a proposals, but to allow the people of the Dominion to come to a decision themselves on the matter, this meeting would regret any action on the part of the Government, which, by leaving the question standing over would thereby constitute it a disturbing factor at the next general election."