ARMISTICE DAY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 353, 14 October 1932, Page 5

ARMISTICE DAY

. ("Post" Special Commissioner.)

STRONG OBJECTIONS TO HOLDING MILITARY PARADES

Wellington, Thursday. The objections of certain sections of the communitv to military parades on Armistiee Day was the subject of an urgent question addressed to the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. G. Cobbe), by Rev. Clyde Carr (Labour, Timaru) : "Will the Minister of Defence take such steps as may be necessary to prevent the holding of military parades on Armistiee Sunday as is being arranged at present?" Mr. Carr stated that the proposal is meeting with strong opposition by the clergy — Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist in particular — and by various assoeiations interested in maintenance of peace and the advancement of disarmament including the League of Nations Union, the Student Christian movement, the W.C.T.U., the Y.M.C.A., the National Peace Council, the No More War movement' and labour organisations. "Prior to the suspension of compulsory military training in Christchurch, church parades were held by the units in Chrsitchurch on the Sunday nearest Armistiee Day," said the Minister in reply. "Th'e proposed parade 'is merely a revival of this custom and is not an innovation." The Minister added that the parade, which is to be held in Hagley Park, would be purely for divine service and for no other reason. Having regard to these circumstances, he did not propose to take any steps to interfere.