REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1920, Page 4

REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT.

ATTACKS STRATFORD'S MEMBER,

(By wire.—Resident Reporter.) Stratford, Last Night. The Rev. Howard Elliott, Dominion organiser of the Protestant Political Association, addressed a fairly large uudience in the Stratford Town Hall to-night. Mr. R. B. Cameron presided. The speaker dealt at length with the aims and aspirations of the Association, and its light against what the lecturer stated was the Church of Rome's attempt to gain control of the political destinies of the country. He said that 65 to 70 per cent, of the present members of Parliament were pledged to the P-P.A. platform, and would give effect to reforms which the association wished to bring about. "Since the general election the Roman Catholics have been very quiet in New Zealand, although not in Stratford," he remarked.' What was the position today? Rome had recognised that her plans had failed, and that the P.P.A. had proved an efficient counter to her political moves, and that they could no longer gain dominant control through the Liberal party, because that party was down and out for all time. What

then? In every labor organisation, women as well as men, Rome was at work, and hoped to gain secure control of the political machinery of the country over the backs of the e\treme Labor party. Referring to the Stratford by-election, Mj. Elliott said the Catholics of Stratford were "getting one hack" ■on the Government for the non-exemption from service of (lie Marist [Brothers- He urged the Protestants of the electorate to see that the man who represented them in Parliament was a man who represented Protestantism. No man could serve two masters, and could not serve the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant interests at the same time.

A voice: There's only one Masters icre!

Mr. Elliott: Well, I must say you've chosen a bad Masters.

Another voice: As good a Protestant as you are!

Mr. Elliott: I'm afraid I don't agree with tou, but perhaps you consider yourself a good judge. Mr. Elliott added that he had seen a letter -which Mr. Mastery sent to Wellington prior to the general election, in which Mr. Masters said that he did not .want the Protestant support. A voice:: He did not say that. He said he didn't want your support. Mr. Elliott: Wfll, seeing that the P.P.A- is the only Protestant organisation, I assume that he .did not want the Protectant support. Mr. Elliott added that as the P.P.A. had not said it was going to support Mr. Masters it took his letter as a gratuitous insult. Perhaps Mr. Masters might be as good a Protestaut as he was, lint it hardly looked like it. Mr. Elliott predicted another general election before long, and urged that Protestants of Stratford should organise. At the conclusion of the meetins a vote of thanks was accorded the speaker.