RELIGION IN POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 18, 16 October 1919, Page 6

RELIGION IN POLITICS

MR. MASSEY AND THE P.P.A

PRIME MINISTER'S REPUDIATION

'A suggestion niado by a Nelson newspapor that there was a connection betweon Mr. Massey's election manifesto and;,certain utterances cinannting from the Protectant Political Association was the' 'subject of a quostion put to the Prime Minister by Mr. E. M'Callura (Wairaii) iu the Houjo of Representatives yesterday. Mr. M'Callum said that Bort of thing was making political lift unpleasant. "One of my opponents happens to ba a Soman Catholic," lie tom the Houso. "But I don't desire votes to-be cast for me because I am a Protectant. If religious controversy is to be brought into the public life of the country, then public life will not bo worth, following up at all. 1 have no great wish to win an election if tho test is to be whether I am a Protectant 'or a Catholic. Theso men j are making public life very difficult for those who .wish to do the right thing." j The Primo Minister said that ho had (Cot seen CJ:o paragraphs ■ mentioned by i j ?. Callum - 'i'Uo writer apparently fluid tried to traco a connection between a statement by Mr. Howard Elliott on Iriday, that the Prihio" Minister would shortly issue a policy;,and the fact that the Kefonn policy nctually appeared on tho following Monday. A suggestion of collusion was made. But members would iremember that he ihad stated some weeks |«go that ]io would shortly issue a policy, fand had asked tho electors to suspend judgment in tho meantime. Ho was asked by reporters at the end of Inst i. week, when the policy woitld appear, and le told them it would probably appear 'early this week. It actually appeared ;on Monday. Ho mentioned this to show I there was no collusion. Mr. Howard Elliott appeared to have raid that there .was ■practically no Reform Party. "I nm quite confident that he knows nothinc about it," added Mr. M'nssey. "I have tne best of reasons for- believing that, tho principles of the Hefonn Party were never so popular as. they are at this preSrm « ate, I feel i,;, strongly as Mr M Callum doeji about mixing, up religioni anfl politics. I hope und believe that the party I lead will have the support of every ■ section of tho ■ Christian Chinch." & ' \,~s ■ Mr. Wilford:-He did not repudiate it. Mr. Massey. I did repudiate it. I top ,~, auy connection with, Mr. Howard Elliott and anyone connected with ■nun. ~;■■..