P.P.A.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160712, 27 July 1920, Page 5

P.P.A.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Wanganui branch of the Protestant Political Association was held last evening, Mr R'.' Horsley presiding over a large attendance. The Chairman stated he was delighted to see so many present, which showed that the interest in the Association was not diminishing in any way. He pointed out that the P.P.A. was not a religious association, and all the talk of sectarianism came from the other side, those persons being ever ready to draw the red herring across the path. The speaker then read the platform of the P.P.A. and pointed out that the great desire of the Association was to promote loyalty to the Empire. He impressed upon members the necessity for that duty in these days of strife. .He contended that the P.P.A. had not been started one moment too soon in New Zealand to check the unrest that was being engineered. He impressed upon the audience the value of upholding civil and religious freedom, and contended that with the undermining that had been going on in New Zealand it was opportune the P.P.A. movement had started. He considered that Protestants had been too apathetic in the past and had allowed encroachments on their civil and religious liberties. It was time now to put matters on a sound and satisfactory basis. The annual report was as follows: The executive takes pleasure in presenting its report for the period since the last annual meeting. This period has been the most strenuous in the history of the movement and has made the heaviest demands on the officers, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that we meet under happier circumstances than ever before for the year has proved the ability of the Association to organise Protestants into a Solid party, prepared at the box to put their Protestant principles before party or any other consideration and to vote for those candidates only who are prepared to do likewise. The Association has earned the recognition of all political parties and the general public, and has established its rights to be heard for the well-being of the Dominion. The year started unpropitiously, the aftermath of the disastrous epidemic, which had completely disorganised the work. Slowly the work was taken up again and the task of completing our organisation was advanced apace. The great event of the year, was. of course, the general election. With fear and trepidation the officers of the P.P.A. in times past have “wondered if th'e organisation would stand the crucial test of an election,’’ and frankly we have admitted that unless it it was a failure, but the test has been applied and the Association has been proved efficient beyond the expectations of the most optimistic authority, for of the present Parliament over 70 per cent, of the members are pledged to our platform, Locally the success of the Rangitikei candidate, Mr W. Glenn, was certainly due to the very efficient work of the P.P.A. in Wanganui East and Marton. In the Wanganui electorate the P.P.A. worked splendidly for its selected canddiate, but unfortunately the political party who had nominated that candidate did absolutely nothing to assist his candidature, or even to assist the P.P.A. at the election, so that the failure in W an S ail ui is not attributable to the P.P.A. Membership.—The membership of the Association continues to grow, and our present strength is such that the Wanganui branch is talked of all over New Zealand and numerous congratulatory letters are received. Notwithstanding the progress we have made in this matter there is still much room for further growth. As yet we have only touched the fringe of the matter, and members must not rest content until every elector possible is enrolled in the P.P.A. The daily papers are full of reports of disloyalty, sedition and disruption on the part of Romanists and the I.W.W.’s, and the P.P.A. is the only organisation definitely arrayed against these enemies of the Empire. Members are urged to keep this fact in mind and during this year to strive to double the strength of the P.P.A. in Wanganui, that in this Dominion loyalty and freedom and truth may predominate. Annual Subscriptions.—The collection of the annual subscription of members is a task of much magnitude, and that it has not been done very thoroughly is not a matter for surprise. Members would greatly assist the group officers by posting their annual subscriptions to the secretary, box 27, Aramoho. This is surely the least that one should do for a cause of so much importance as the P.P.A. Development.—During the year the development of the Association has been pushed on apace beyond the borders of Wanganui. At Marton and Turakina strong groups have been formed and the organisation has taken firm root. To this fact is due, in large measure, Mr Glenn’s success at the recent election. Propaganda.—The greatest difficulty in the way of Protestant organisation has been, not the opposition of Rome, but the lack of knowledge on the part of Protestants as to the menace of Romanism, and the consequent need of Protestant organisation. During the year much has been done to overcome this difficulty. Protestant literature has been distributed, many addresses have been given in various parts of the town and the fullest opportunity has been taken by means of newspaper correspondence to enlighten the Protestant community as to the urgent and grave need for full and complete organisation. Finance.—The small debit balance disclosed in the balance sheet is mainly due to the heavy expense incurred in connection with organising the Rangitikei electorate prior to the election. This will soon be wiped out and the financial position may be considered as relatively satisfactory. It must be remembered, however, that the, progress of the Association is largely dependent on the amount of money provided by members. Your executive can only extend the Association to the extent- that you provide funds. The annual subscription has been fixed low so as to exclude none from membership, and is not sufficient to meet the ordinary expenses of the Association so that the extension of the cause depends on the generosity of members, and. while considerable