P.—B.

48

JH. L. ELLIOTT.

287. What is your age?—l am forty. 288. Can you tell us of your own knowledge whether a Protestant Political Association exists in other places than New Zealand?—A Protestant Political Association exists in Queensland — brought about by the same conditions that face us here in New Zealand, owing to the domination of Pome in our politics and the Public Service; in New South Wales; in Melbourne, Victoria; in South Australia; in Canada; in Cape Colony; and throughout the United States of America. 289. With the same platform?— With the same platform; with the same declaration to be signed as we require our members to sign. Ours is one of a number throughout the Empire which seek to preserve the Empire against the attacks of Catholics upon it to disintegrate the Empire. 290. With regard to (hose four letters written at your dictation and posted by you, it has been suggested, I think, that they were forgeries: will you kindly tell us for what express purpose you did that? —To prove the nature of the censorship upon our correspondence. 291. Under the " Reasons " for your association I read, " The exemption of priests and Marist Brothers in response to the demand of the Hierarchy." " The Hierarchy," 1 suppose, means the priests. Has the Hierarchy in New Zealand demanded the exemption of Marist Brothers? — Archbishop O'Shea has; and Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, has also demanded and threatened that the whole force of the Catholic Church will be used if they are not exempted. 292. " The attack upon our educational system and the demand for State aid for their sectarian schools." Has that been demanded publicly?—lt has been demanded publicly; and the Minister of Education has been violently and vilely attacked because he has refused to grant them State aid. Public meetings have been held in the Town Hall, Auckland, and throughout the country, speaking in (he most unmeasured terms, and it is in consequence we have to organize. 293. 1 understand that is an extract from the Tablet of the 29th June upon that very point? —That is so. Mr. Gray: I would like to ask, sir, how could this be made relevant? How does this arise out of my cross-examination? 1 endeavoured to avoid any contrast between the activities of the Roman Catholic Church and the activities of the Protestant Churches either in the matter of education or otherwise. I endeavoured to confine myself to this gentleman's activities, which seemed to have the result of creating ill feeling. His Worship: Mr. Elliott, was cross-examined in regard to some books you had in your hand. Mr. Ostler: My friend quoted these words out, of this constitution: "The exemption of priests and Marist Brothers in response to the demand of the Hierarchy; the attack upon our educational system, and the demand for State aid for their sectarian schools; the truculent and insolent attitude adopted towards the Minister for Education in the name of 'the spirit of conciliation ' by the Roman Federation; the scoffing of politicians and Protestants, and their truckling to Rome." Mr. Gray: I did not quote that. Mr. Ostler: You are quite mistaken; you read it. Mr. Gray: I read the first sentence, certainly. Mr. Ostler: My friend used that to show that this man was stirring up religious strife. I am going to show the object and purpose of his attitude. 294. Mr. Ostler (to witness).] With regard to the "truculent and insolent attitude adopted towards the Minister for Education in the name of the spirit of conciliation " : that is a reprint from the Tablet on. the very point?— Yes. 295. Did you have a, meeting recently? You had a meeting recently at Wanganui, and one held on Thursday night at Hamilton : were many people present?— The room was crowded out — not standing room—about eight hundred present.

i AUOTCLANI), Monoay, 20tii August, 1917. Mrs. Mary Irvine examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] What is your full name, Mrs. Irvine? —Mary Irvine. 2. And you live at Otahuhu ? —Yes; Station Street, Otahuhu. 3. Did you post a letter to box 912 recently ?—Yes, on the Bth July. 4. What was in the letter ?—Asking for two tickets. 5. For the meeting?— Yes. 6. Did you ever get a reply?—l got no reply, and on Thursday I wrote to Mr. Slyfield, our Postmaster, and told him 7. Would that be the following Thursday after the Bth?—Yes. 8. That was the day after the meeting, was it? —Yes, the 12th July; and I told him I had written for two tickets and received no reply, and he forwarded me a paper in the afternoon to fill in, which I did in the presence of my husband. 9. Did you ever hear any more about it?— Last Wednesday week I received an answer from Mr. Williamson, telling me 10. Ts that the answer?— Yes, that is it. "Although every possible search and inquiry have been made, no trace of the missing letter can be found in the post-office." Mr. Gray: No questions, sir.