METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 133, 5 June 1907, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Arrmagemextts for Fiji-

SYDNEY, June 4.

At tie Methodist Conference to-day Dr. Brown moved the adoption of the report of the Fiji Commission on the constitution of a Fiji district. The Conference agreed that tie pastoral session should consist of all the European ministers and preachers on trial and one iffltive minister from ■each circuit. There -was a lengthy debate on the question of the composition of the Financial Committee. Finally, it was resolved that it should consist of four superintendent missionaries, two native ministers, and two native lay members of the Church.

! Mr Slade said that though he had been away from Fiji for fire years he had not allowed his knowledge of the place (to lapse, with the result that he had found' it of advantage to modify his views. He therefore stood m the conference, not to oppose lay representation, : but to support it. It was a little hard to so back on his previous standpoint. i but he was seeking to do the best for ! Fiji. They were not forcing anything I upon Fiji, for the question had been before the Group since 1901, and people there had had time to consider it. Lay representation had become a question of importance to the Fijians, who wanted it, and unless they got it then a position of danger would be created. (.Keceived 10- 2 * :L - m -'l : STDNEY, this day, ! Ai the Methodist Conference several speakers raised objections to granting the Fijians lay representation. The Bey. Mr. Slade said thai in Fiji the yenng misaißMTTFw were thought to be standing between the Conference and the people. That impression could not be allowed to continue in Fiji, -where there was a genius for intrigue, sad the minister might have all round Trfm an element of diseonient without knowing it. The young men had km>wn this, aid all honour to their binewrity. They dH not •andersiMd