THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1920, Page 6

THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL.

(To the Editor.) Sir—The discussion in connection therewith has been of an educational value, and lias revealed the fact that the teaching of the Roman Church have been In opposition to the Inns of the country. It has had at least one oilier effect in that it has shown the Pvotesiani community of Taranaki where some of its M.l'.'s are with regard to just and equitable legislation. Mr. S.' C. S.:tiitii, for one, has at last slipped, or, rather, been pushed, over tho fence. His utterances in connection wit li this Bill have proved that lie is out of touch with the people he is supposed t-/ represent; otherwise he would not have been so foolish as to make such au absurd statement as that there is no demand lor lobulation with regard to Lhe workings of tiie iniquitous "No temere decree." Mr. Smith, h.v his unwarranted and totally erroneous statement regarding the Protestant Political Association, has proved his uttfr ignorance of the subject, ~nd has openly declared war on/that body. No doubt Protestants will remember his .statement at tho next election. A man who will advocate the continuance of such a dlseord-produclnc decree is not fit to represent an Intelligent; community who stand for religious liberty, equal rights for all, and the total obser-' vance of the laws of the country. Protest-* ants who valuo their liberty should seriously consider their position as supporters of such candidates. Mr. Smith's reason for voting against this amendment was "that It did not originate in the House," and it wilt he apparent to everyone that It Is a very thin and unintelligent excuse, and will not even be appreciated by Roman Catholics. Mr. .Masters has not. been a. great advertisement for the calibre of men sent by tho Taranaki people to represent: them, in the House. A man who will get up IntheLegislatlvo Chamber and make <i statement that because he had not thought jnucl: about the question he would vote against it, proves himself to be simply a. "camp follower," a man who relies oil getting a lead from others. Almost lu the same breath he states that there are 7H.T3 of the people against this amendment, clearly showing lint he had given little thought about the matter, and It will be Very interesting to discover how Mr. Masters arrived at l<is figures, as there have been no statistics taken 011 the question, and consequently 110 available source of information at his disposal. Therefore he has 110 authority fv making such a false statement, and it > to be concluded the figures were apparently quoted to camouflage his own weakness.—l am, etc., "AN'TI-SMOKE-St'KEEX." Eltham, Xov. is. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Vour correspondent, Geo. Henderson, has missed the mark when he imagines that any member of the P.P.A. Is ashamed of his ■organisation. We hart; everything to be proud of. Ts there anything to hide or to be ashamed of in standing In the interests of Protestantism, loyalty and constitutional government, with equal rights for all, and special privileges for none? However, I haue 110 intention of signing my own name for many good reasons with a letter deallne on this burftjng question. 1 have no desire to have my windows broken, as others have, for upholding law and order. The next point raised is that I did not quote Mr. Smith or Mr. Masters fully. I think I spared them a good deal liy not doing so. I have studied Hansard very carefully, and I find Mr. Smith to have said lie had seen 110 demand for tills legislation outside the r.r'.A. It seemed the legislation was brought forward to justify the agitation by Mr. Howard Elliott. He thought the Protestants were entitled to have an organlsaion, but their organiser was a most dangerous man. He would vote against the Hill because lie did not wish to see a revlial of secta-ian strife. Sir. I!. Masters'(Stratford) said ho j la(t n(U yet seen tho heeessitv for Hie legislation. Ho did not. admit that Mr. Howard Elliott had the right to represent tie views of the Proestants of this coumry. Ho was a paid political agent, working in the interests of the Reform Party. He hoped the Trlme Minister would allow the matter to go hack to the Committee. I have quoted them now luliy, and trust I have been successful in satisfying Mr. Oe<7. Hi-mlersou, I am euro it will be interesting ti> their constituents to know how they voted, and how much sympah.v we Protestants may expect from these two members. Tho next point regarding the doubt of my mother and father being a Roman Catholic, I do not care If Mr Henderson believes this or not. jfy mother was a Holll.ul Catholic, but, I am thankful to say, a Protestant when she died. In conclusion, 1 should like to remind Mr. Geo Henderson that the 2,1 members who voted against the liili win ), aVI! „ hard fight to get back to Parliament, and will certainly have a. difficult matter to explain on tho public platform when they next meet the electors.-—I am, etc., "BRITTANICUS Sl'M,"