LIBERAL PARTY'S DEFEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1920, Page 6

LIBERAL PARTY'S DEFEAT.

CREDIT CLAIMED BY P.P.A. RELIGION AND POLITICS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, June 5. Speaking of the progress which the Protestant Political Association had made during the past few years, the Rev. Howard Elliott, in the course of his address at Stratford on Friday night, said it was wonderful the change in the attitude of the Liberal newspapers and a few others prior to the general election. Before December 17 the P.P.A. was variously described as "only a group of meddlesome bodies who couldn't count in the election and must be dismissed," as "only a small group of fanatics who could have no effect upon the result of the election," and that "the P.P.A. could be ignored," but what a change the morning after! (Laughter.) The Dunodin Star said that "one of the surprises of the election was the extent and power of the P.P.A."; the Lvtteltoii Times referred bitterly to "sectarian strife"; the Wellington Evening Post regretted that "the demon of sectarian bigotry had crept into the politics of the country"; but the Auckland Star really took the penny bun when it headed an editorial dealing with the influence of the P.P.A. "An Overeast Christmas." Aftor dealing with the influence of the P.P.A. in the Awarua election, Mr. Elliott stated that lie was prepared to meet Sir Joseph Ward on any platform in the country and debate Sir Joseph's charges against .the P.P.A. with him. "But," added Mr. Elliott, "Sir Joseph lias gone Home—l think to govern Ireland and to beat De Valera for his job!" (Laughter.) The newspapers recognised, said Mr. Elliott, that the P.P.A. had operated from Awarua to the North Cape, and in every ease its influence had had a profound effect on the result of the election on December 17. "A lot of people think that the P.P.A, represents bigotry and bitterness," add- •£ Mr. Eilitftt. "Tfea? *« fcll wrsng,

There is a man in Stratford named Thomson, lie is a solicitor and a Protestant, and he sometimes writes letters to the newspapers. He says that he is very concerned with what Christ will think of Howard Elliott. Well, I am naturally concerned about that one thing, but 1 am not a hit concerned about what a flabby Protestant like Sir. Thomson thinks of me." Mr. Elliott explained that the P.PA. did not assail the religion of Roman Catholics and did not question their right to worship as they pleased; it did not assail individual Catholics, but it did assail that Church when it entered politics. The P.P.A. did not touch politics except when religion entered politics to their detriment. If the fight liad been started and was sectarianism, it was not the P.P A. that introduced it, but the Catholic Federation, and so long as the Catholics attempted to influence the Government of New Zealand that influence would be opposed by the combined Protestants of New Zealand. (Applause.)