BISHOP LISTON.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1922, Page 1

BISHOP LISTON.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL’S PROTEST

f BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

AUCKLAND, March 23. The City Council to-night, passed the following resolution: “That this Council, solemnly and sincerely affirming its' loyalty and allegiance to King George and to the British Empire, deplores as disloyal and seditious a speech delivered by Dr Liston, Roman Catholic Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland in tho Town Hall and resolves: (1) That the Council hereby records its condemnation of the said lecture, and declares its opinion that no person capable ol making the statements reported to have been made by Dr. Liston is worthy of British citizenship; (2) that the speeon be brought under the notice of the New Zealand Government with a view to its taking appropriate action; (3) that those concerned in the hire of the Town Hall and Auckland Domain in connection with St. Patrock’s Day celebration be notified that, until the sentiments expressed in tihe speech, and evident in the proceedings are disavowed, and an assurance given against any repetition of such statements, neither of these facilities will be available for the organisation under whose auspices and on whose behalf, the Bishop claimed he spoke; and that the City Solicitor be instructed to redraft the terms for the hire of the Town Hall and the by-laws governing the use of the Domain, and redraft also the by-laws relating to park and open spaces, and consider the Council’s powers as regards licensing public halls, so as to require all proceedings to be conducted in a lawful and constitutional manner, without disloyalty, sedition, or other conduct invidious to the Realm or constituting an affront to citize‘ns.”

COUNCILLORS’ PROTEST. AUCKLAND Mar c h 23

The Council’s resolution re Dr Liston was opposed by Mr Bloodworth, who moved four amendments but failed to find a seconder. Mr Bloodworth said the Mayor was right in writing to Dr Liston ; but he should have awaited the Bishop’s reply before publishing his statement. The motion, said Mr Bloodworth went further than the Council should go. He claimed that stronger speeches than Dr Liston’s have gone unnoticed if made in Britain itself.

Cr. Bloodworth pleaded for the same freedom of speech here.

ATTACKS ON BISHOP DENOUNCED. AUCKLAND, March 23. St. Benedicts branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society to-day adopted a resolution unani piously deprecating the attacks that had been made on Dr. Liston. The resolution condemns the unwarranted attitude adopted towards the Bishop by some so-called Catholics, and the Society records its unswerving fidelity to and its appreciation of Biahop Lisbon,