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DOMINION DAY.

QUESTION OF PARADES. WELLINGTON, September 3. A large deputation representing tho Ministers' Association and the Wellington Sunday School Union waited on the Hon. G. Fowlds (Minister of Education and Acting Minister of Defence) to-day in reference to the question of celebrating Dominion Day and the participation of Cadets therein. Mr R.A.Wright, M.P., in introducing the deputation, said its object was to bring under the Minister's notice the fact that, as Dominion Day this year falls on a Sunday, it was, proposed to call out the Cadets for something in the nature of a parade. To that proposal exception was being taken by a number of citizens in this part of the Dominion, and, they believed, by parents also. The Rev. J. K. Elliott said he represented the Wellington Ministers' Association, which comprised some 36 congregations of the different Protestant denominations. The Presoyterisn Church had for centuries made a valiant stand -for the observance of the Sabbath. The feeling in his church had been that Sab- '. bath desecration had become painfully ] prevalent, so much so that the Moderator was issuing an encyclical which was to be read from the pulpits. The proposed demonstration seemed to them to be opposed to Christian sentiment and conscience. The Rev. J. Shirer (president of the Presbyterian Sabbath Schools Association) said the association represented a few thousand children. He thought the effect of the proposed parade upon scholars and teachers would not be at all beneficial. The Rev. Mr Dewdney said he spoke on behalf of quite a number of parents who had ippror.ched him in regard to the matter, and ho wished to say thit. whatever the Defence Department did. their boys would not attend any such parade. Mr J. G. W. .Aitken said he repre- : eented the Wellington Sunday School"

Union, which comprised 75 schools, over 10,000 scholars, and over 1000 teachers. The Anglican Sunday schools were not associated, but he was authorised to' say that the association's view was supported by &everal Anglican clergymen. In his reply the Minister said the deputation had made out a pretty strong case against the holding of a combined open- j air service on a Sunday afternoon at the time the Sunday schools were assembled. He did not want to do anything that would .interfere in any way with the work of Sunday schools. The instructions which had been sent round both to officers commanding Volunteer districts and Cadet officers, had made it pretty plain that arrangements were to be made locally that would suit local conditions. He saw no difficulty at all in arrangements bemg made so as to entirely get, over the objections .raised, and in regard to Sunday schools, was no instruction that there was to be a . combined church service. There was a suggestion that in larger centres that might be a* suitable method, but that was not a necessary part of the, arrangements; He"

was sure that none o^ them could object to the Volunteers, turning out to an ordinary church service and the Cadets might ■ surely be assembled and taken to their own churches in the same way. After representations made he had no doubt that would be done. The officers commanding districts had the arrangements entirely in their own hands, and he would see that they were instructed and that thia was made clear to them. If objection "was made to any combined service, arrangements could be made for an ordinary church parade, and Volunteers andl Cadets should assemble at their own churches. He would communicate with, the officers commanding districts on the subject. ,He did not think there need be any fear of the afternoon combined celebrations being held. — (" Hear, hear.") There was no compulsion for the officer^ and Cadets to turn out. He should simply ask that "they fall in line with th^ general church parade of Volunteers.

—No representations of living personage* are permitted on th< stage.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19090908.2.338

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 63

Word count
Tapeke kupu
652

DOMINION DAY. Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 63

DOMINION DAY. Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 63

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