DUAL ROLE OF MAYOR AND MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 107, 30 January 1935, Page 10

DUAL ROLE OF MAYOR AND MINISTER

Position of Rev. E. T. Cox PART OF CONGREGATION HOSTILE By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, January 29. The dual office of the Rev. E. T. Cor as Alayor of Dunedin and minister at the Alornington Alethodist Church was challenged at the September quarterly meeting of that church, the feeling being expressed that a minister should devote his whole time to his pastoral duties, anti that meeting extended an invitation to an Auckland minister to take charge, which invitation was declined. At the same time the Trinity Alethodist quarterly meeting received a remit recommending that any minister before accepting a paid civic or Parliamentary appointment must resign from the ministry. The position was clarified at the quarterly meeting of the Alornington Church last night, when a congregational petition, containing 170 names, was presented, praying that Air. Cox ■ z bc invited to remain a further year. The petition was granted by a vote of 19 to 7, but Air. Cox expressed regret that the hostility of a small section, which had communicated itself to the connexional officers of tlie Dominion Church made it impossible for him to accept. Air. Cox’s term as minister expires early in April, leaving him- free for Alayoral duties and for the candidature of tlie Clutha seat, for which he hag accepted tlie Labour Party’s nomination.