THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CIRCULAR

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10495, 5 December 1911, Page 5

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CIRCULAR

AND' ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE,

A special meting of the New, Zealand Alliance Executive was held in Wellington yesterday morning, and the following resolution was ur.aaiimously adopted:— "That this Executive has read witih deep regret the circular letter of Archbishop Redwood advising Roman Catholics to- vote against National Prohibition, ott the grounds that possibly the repeal of the clause allowing alcoholic wine for sacramental purposes may follow tlhe success of National. Prohibition. ; "We notice'with, pleasure that the said declaration does not touch the issue of No-license, as no question of the need for any exemption for sacralmental or other purposes can arise under that issue. "The executive desires it to be understood that the party has not only not entertained any such, idea, but has, oil. tihe contrary, given substantial evidence to, the contrary. "Ther,executive ihas taken a strong line safeguarding religious convictions. When the draft of the famous 'compact' was presented to the Alliance it did-not contain a provision faring the sacramental question, e refused to proceed unless the, -proviso "was inserted, and Sir Joseph. Ward declared,that-unless the New ZealandAlliance's demands were acquiesced in Ihe would not proceed with . the, . Bill, ! The definite exemption of sacramental wine- from the operation of National prohibition was ,t!hen inserted. The law expressly provides that if National Prohibition is carried (section 21, clause 2) 'Nothing in this section shall >

extend or apply to the importation, manufacture, or sale in accordance with regulations made by tlhe Governor-in-Council. in that behalf of intoxicating liquor for medicinal, scientific, sacramental, or industrial purposes exclusively.' "The Archbishop's dictum is fln inr ference from the following statement attributed to tiho Rev. Mr Hammond: —'When fre carry Prohibition, a few years' after We will 'have .the majority of people educated to the extent that , the doctors will throw alcohol'out for medicinal purposes; tlhe churches .will not use it for sacramental purposes (as, indeed, my own churcih does not now); and it will not be necessary for industrial purposes.' "Mr HammOnd appears personally to contemplate a revision 'by the medical profession, by the Church, and by the 'manufacturing interest. of their present use of alcohol. Such a revision voluntarily made by the interested in the - matter , is the direct opposite of a tyrannical invasion of the lights of conscience. " -v < 'Tho executive is till at it speaks for tOie whole of the No-License party when-it declares that that party would never carry tho principle of Prohibition, to such lengths as would interfere with the rights of conscience | of our Roman Catholic fellow-citizens or of any other religious body, but would, on the ..contrary. oppose any such extension as :i violation of tho principles of liberty."