PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 115, 1 February 1918, Page 3

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

, $ ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The first annual conference of the Protestant Political Association was resumed yesterday morning. It was resolved that the first session of the Dominion Council shall bo iield in Wellington'on April 23 and 24, at which representatives of all the branches throughout New Zealand will be present. A. special campaign fund of £100,000 was approved and inaugurated. The following resolutions wero carried Unanimously :— "That this conference expresses its whole-hearted appreciation of the mild, yet definite and clear manner in which the principles of .Protestantism have been presented to readers by the editor of 'The Nation' (Rev. G. Knowles Smith), and expresses its indebtedness' to that paper for the firoat assistance it has given to the cause of the Protestant Political Association." "That the Dominion secretary ' exchange copies of the constitution and rules with Australia, with a view _to opening up negotiations for federation with them." "That the conference desires to express its high appreciation of the wise, able, and efficient labour of its national organiser, the R'ev. Howard Elliott, anjl takes this opportunity of declaring its full confidence in his sterling worth, his unimpeachable character, and his outstanding platform work and ability, and hereby expresses its pleasure at the great success that attends his labours and offorts on behalf of the Protestant Political Association throughout this country." The conference also passed a resolution expressing to the Prime Minister its pleasure that New Zealand will be represented at the Empire Conference to be held in London, and trusting that the outcome would, in the interests of the people of the Dominion, reveal the decision of the Empire to retan control of Samoa and other German possessions in r.lie Pacific, which in German hands are looked iipon by our people as a menace to our freedom and progress.' The resolution further expressed, the loyalty of the conference to the Throne and its continued support of the Government in carrying on the struggle for freedom and justice until victory has been won. The session was continued yesterday afternoon ami evening.