NO CHURCH PRIORITY

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1946, Page 5

NO CHURCH PRIORITY

-Press Association

Bv T pl.e-aranh-

NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 5. A clash between the Presbyterian Church and the Keturiied Serviees Association, supported by the' Taranaki Trades and Labour Council, over tlie building of a churcli hall at Fitzroy has resulted in tlie plaeing of a ban on the work by tlie Under-Secretary of Housing (Mr. E.'P. Meaehen). The ehairman of the liousing ' eommittee of the New Plymouth B.S.A. (Mr. H". S. Jones) said the church attitude was that as the building was to be a house of God it merited a higher priority than lionses for homeless servicemen. The P.S.A. action resulted from the decision of the eongregation of the Knox Church to accept a tender for the building of a memorial Sunday school at a cost of £6098. The Kev. W. IT. Norton told a church meeting t'hat a permit for 4he work had been issued., The iiresent building used by tlie church as a Sunday school had to be vacated next February, and unless a new building was available the church would "have to go on the street." The emcrgency eommittee of the R.S.A., at a meeting today, deeided after hearing explanations that it did not consider the church justified in erecting a hall in the liglit of the serious shortage of building material available for homeless servicemen. "I will take steps to see -that the job is not continued;" said Mr. Meaehen in response -to telephone representations. "The offieer who issued the permit at Palmerston North had no right whatever to do so. "