PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 7

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

Tho- annual council of tho Protestant Political Association concluded its sittings, on Saturday. The discussion .of remits was resumed, and tho executive was instructed to draw up a political platform. Tho official report states that reports from tho groups showed that the organisation was rapidlv approaching a state at which it is anticipated the Protestant vote will be utilised solidly for tlie election of suitable men to Parliament. The powers of the Dominion executive were enlarged and the work of organisation, both political ond financial,' was ordered to be oxpedited and completed, A generous response' was made by the representatives of tho various divisions financially, and the most optimistic time prevailed as the result of the discussion' and the development of tho plans. Regarding tho suppression of the religion., of convicted persons, tho following motion was passed: "This council direct tho attontion of tho Government to tho suppression of tho religion of convicted persons from the official Year Book, thereby removing, from the people valuable proof of tho superiority 'of the valuo of the State system- of education as against denominational education, and calls upon the Government to have these .statistics reinstated, '.as their removal is without the authority of Parliament and against tho interests of tho people." Tho council affirmed tho urgent desirability of establishing State orphanages. ' . . ' Another resolution adopted was as follows: "This council unites with the Protestants of the Empire in protesting against tho presence of an envoy of the British Government at. the Vatican as being unconstitutional and an insult to tho loyal Protestants of every Dominion, and that the executive comnninicalo with Protestant organisations throughout the Empiro with a view to strong united protest," .. ; I" motion we. l ) carried "That whereas the 'Ne Tomere' decree defies the laws of this Dominion and affronts Protestants by declaring Protestant and civil marriage invalid and concubinage, and whereas it .is the intrusion of a foreigner into tho domestic legislation and affairs of this country, this council demands an amendment to tho legislation, constituting it an offence for any person to question or impugn the validity or the sanctity of such a marriage either publicly or privately, and further urges upon alt Protestants the extreme umlesirnbilily of contracting mixed marriages."