POLITICS & CHURCH

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1932, Page 5

POLITICS & CHURCH

STRANGE COURSE

RESOLUTION BY CONGREGATION.

(Per Presz Association — Copyright.)

AUCKLAND, December 12. The extraordinary course of moving a resolution, of a political character during divine service was taken at St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, in Grey Lynn, on Sunday, when tlie congregation decided that a message should be sent to the Prime Minister, expressing its deep concern at “the feeling which has been created in many minds as the result of the recent action of the Government in further reducing the already inadequate remuneration of the relief workers.”

The Congregation respectfully urged the Government immediately to restore the 10 per.cent. .cut in the relief pay.

This incident occurred after the minister, Rev. E. H., Kedgley, had made his intimations for the week. He announced that a very unusual process was about to be adopted. He said that he would, not contemplate such an unorthodox procedure, if it. were not for the strong feeling of the St. Peter’s Session, that a. serious ■situation, which lmd arisen in Auckland, warranted extraodinnry action, He then read, the motion, and two members of the session, standing up, moved and eeoonded it.

Tlie minister then said: “I will ask those in favour of this motion to rise, and those who oppose it to retain their seats.”

The congregation rose in a body, and the minister declared that the motion had been carried unanimously.

To-diay the resolution was forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Employment, and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Kedgley stated to-day that the cut in the relief pay had been discussed last Wednsday night by the Kirk Session, the speakers evincing a grave concern, of possible consequences if this cut should be continued. It was agreed' that the situation warranted an expression of opinion from the congregation- and a suitable motion was framed 1 and adopted unanimously by the Session for submission to the congregation on Sunday.” “We know the situation in Grey Lynn intimately,” said Mr Kedgley “and we have been deeply concerned regarding the bitter feeing that has arisen since the cut was made m the relilef pay. Only tfie (reinstatement of the reductions will prevent an ugly situation arising.”