1.—7.

4

[H. ELLIOTT.

Rev. Howard Elliott: If you now do not want any explanation, and the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church com forward to offer an explanation, 1 presume I shall be able to hear their deductions in reference to these certificates. These are the only ones I put in. 1 have here the photographic copies of the originals : would they be sufficient, or do you desire to hold the originals for a time ? Hon. Mr. Anderson : We keep tho. original. The Chairman : Is there any difficulty about leaving the original '{ Rev. Howard Elliott: I would rather take the originals just now if you are satisfied with the photographs. Hon. Mr. Anderson : If you produce the photograjjhs only you cannot meet them so effectively as with tho originals. Hon. Mr. Lee : They admitted photographs in the Upper House, as may be seen from the report, as follows : " Mr. Elliott also produced photographs of two marriage certificates issued at Brisbane, Queensland, the one of a marriage by a Baptist minister in 1913 of a man and woman described as ' bachelor ' and ' spinster,' and the other of a marriage by a Roman Catholic priest in 1918, of the same man and woman, also described as ' bachelor ' and ' spinster.' " That was accepted by the Upper House. Rev. Howard Elliott: I will not question the point, Mr. Chairman. There are also the points that have been raised by the Church Courts, &c, and by resolution, regarding the religious liberty of all Churches, such as may be affected by the proposed amendments in the law, if they come into force. I desire to be heard in reference to those points in support of the proposed amendments. Th". Chairman : Mr. Elliott wants to support this clause in answer to the resolutions passed by various bodies objecting to it. Rev. H iward Elliott: They are raising the point in objection that this amendment if passed into law would infringe religious liberty, and the liberty of the various denominations to teach their doctrines of marriage. Hon. Mr. Lee : But they have not raised it before this Committee. Rev. Howard Elliott: I desire to have an opportunity of meeting it Hon. Mr. Lee : But they have not made that before this Committee. Rev. Howard Elliott: They have raised the point, nevertheless. The statements have been made, and I desire to have the opportunity of meeting them. I prefer to meet these objections before the people concerned, and before the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church. It would be much more satisfactory for me to do so. They have avoided anything like coming to grips on this subject. They stand off and fire pamphlets all over the country, and allow nothing to be recorded where responsible Committees can draw their own conclusions and deductions in the course of cross-examination. The attitude, so far as I can judge, is most unfair which they have taken up, and is calculated, I think intentionally, to burk the work of this Committee, with the view that the subject may be hung up indefinitely, and probably over the end of the session. Ido trust that the Committee will not allow anything of the kind to be done. If the attitude of tho Roman Catholic Church —or, rather, if the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church do not care to accept the invitation—which, so far as I can judge, is in good taste or courtesy —then that ought to be their responsibility. If they will come, I shall be very glad to have an opportunity of meeting the whole opposition before this Committee, face to face with the Roman Catholic Church authorities. The Chairman: How long would it take to make your statement ? Rev. Howard Elliott : My statement could be made very briefly, if it is only a statement. If I make a statement now and other statements are subsequently made, my right of reply would disappear, or I would only have the right of examination of a witness who might attend. The Chairman : Do you think it material to make a statement ? Rev. Howard Elliott: Ido not think it material at this juncture. Not having appeared, the Roman Catholic Church is allowing the case to go by default. That is how it appears to me. The Chairman : If we ask them concerning this fresh evidence, and they intimate to us that they wish to attend, would it meet your view if you reserve your right to meet any statement they make then ? Rev. Howard Elliott: That would be satisfactory. The Chairman: The Committee is bound to accept documentary evidence. If there is to be a discussion on proposed legislation it would be much more satisfactory to us if they took the opportunity of being present. Rev. Hoivard Elliott: May I suggest that they must have known that some discussion would take place, and that some evidence would probably be tendered. The Chairman: My own view would be, if Mr. Elliott wished to make a statement there is nothing to prevent him from doing so. The question is whether he should make his statement now, or wait until we see whether they want to comment on that evidence. Rev. Howard Elliott: In view of the attitude of the Roman Catholic authorities—the attitude they have taken vp —and in view of what I judge to be the general mind of this Committee, I conclude that it is your intention to afford them another opportunity of appearing. The Chairman : On that particular point. Rev. Howard Elliott: Would you restrict them to that ? The Chairman: I would not be inclined to have the whole question opened up again. Hon. Mr. Lee : I suggest that the document be put in. The Chairman : You admit of the right of reply to it ? Hon. Mr. Lee : I do not know about that. Mr. Harris : They could be heard if they wanted to, but they have not come here. We need not even tell them what has taken place.