SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 July 1924, Page 7

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

RIGHT TO LEVY RATES. PROMISE BY MR, MASSEY. (by telegraph—press association.'. WELLINGTON, July 3. Until comparatively recently religious denominations have been relieved of the responsibility of paying taxes upon church and Sunday school properties used for purposes other than pecuniary gain, but this concession was upset by part of a judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Sim in the Supreme Court authorising local bodies to levy rates upon all buildings used for Sunday school purposes. Accordingly a deputation representing the Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and Congregational Churches, Church of Christ and Salvation Army, waited on the Prime Minister this morning to ask that the law be amended restoring them the exemption they previously enjoyed. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Wright, M.P., rvho pointed out that the gentlemen present represented a great majority of the religious denominations in the ( Dominion. They a.sked that the spirit of the law be so altered as.to enable Sunday schools to bo treated as churches so far as rating purposes were concerned when they were used for legitimate religious purposes. He stressed the importance of Sunday school work in a community. The Rev. Comrie also spoke. The Prime Minister stated, in reply, that lie thoroughly understood the position and agreed with their request A fortnight ago he had asked the Attorney-General to put the matter right by legislation this session. “You can take it from me,” said Mr. Massey, ‘? 11 behalf of the Government, that we will do everything we possibly can to put the matter right, and I have not the slightest doubt but that Parliament will agree to it.”