MR. HOWARD ELLIOTT AND THE R.S.A.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 222, 13 June 1919, Page 4

MR. HOWARD ELLIOTT AND THE R.S.A.

HIS WOODY ILLE SPEECH. Reference to his remarks-fit Woodville recently, which liavo bscn the subject of some adverse criticism, was made by the Kev. Howard Elliott, organiser of tSo Protestant Political Association, at tho meeting addressed by him in St. John's schoolroom last night. "When speaking at Woodville the other night," said Mr. Mliott, "I miulo reference to tho Upturned Soldiers' Association. 111. a report handed in to tin paper I was made to say that the 'Roman Catholics were running and controlling the Returned Soldiers' Association. The members of the Returned Soldiers' Association are very indignant, and I don't wonder that they are indignant. I never made any such statement as that. What I did say, and what I say now, is this: that the Protestant boys coming hack who are members of this association have reason to take note that Roman Catholics «re put into important secretariate of tho association, and Hint they must wake up and take note that their interests are not obscured by this fact." Ho said that he could raise no objection to the appointment of individual Roman Catholics to positions of responsibility in tho association, but ho did see a danger in the appointment to these positions of a preponderance of Roman Catholics. He said, further, that the P.P.A.' ot its annual tonferenco had carried a unanimous resolution pledging tho P.P.A. to assist the Returned Soldiers* Association in every activity having for its object the furtherance of the interests of the returned men. So far as 110 was concerned, and so far the. P.P.A. was concerned, they would do everything possible to assist the re-* turned soldiers in influencing the Government to speed up the repatriation plans nnd so "to give the soldiers a fair start in life.