RELAXATION URGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 22 November 1939, Page 11

RELAXATION URGED

RESTRICTIONS ON BOOKS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Per Press Association.) . CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Restrictions imposed on the import of books were regretted in a resolution adopted at the final session of <he general assembly of the Presbyterian Church last evening. The assembly decided to urge the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, to relax the restrictions. Describing books as the spiritual food of democracy, the Rev. Dr. J. D. Salmond said that it was already apparent that the restriction of the import of them was going to have serious results. The church imported the bulk of its lesson materials from Australia and, as portion of these materials were classed as books, they were subject to the import restrictions. As there was a 50 per cent restriction on the import of these books, it was easy to see what a serious effect there was going to be upon church work. Dr. Salmond moved: “That the assembly learns with regret that the recently-imposed res'rictions on the import of books will cause great hardship and serious inconvenience to our Sunday sciiool scholars and teachers by reducing the supply of essential lesson material, and strongly urges the Minister of Customs to relax the restrictions in the interests of work of such importance 4 o the moral and spiritual welfare of our people.” The motion was carried.