MINISTERS AND SOCIALISTS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 7

MINISTERS AND SOCIALISTS.

A. LIVELY MEETING IN WELLINGTON. (SPECIAL TO "TUT. PRESS.') j WELLINGTON. May 5. Three local clergymen who addressed lan open air meeting hero to-day in front of the Post Office, had a lively time. They wero tho Jlevs. J. J. I North, A. Dewdney, and H. Hobday. j According to the "Poet' report Mr i Dewdney was the first to speak. 'Gentiemon,' - he began. ■Comrades," shouted a voice on the edge of the i crowd, where an extremely argumentative individual was conducting a little forum of his own. "We want questions answered, ,, came from a halfdozen voices in front of tho waggon. ''They shall be answered."' said Mr North, rising, "fivo minutes from tho close of the meeting." Mr North's reception was not what could bo described as cordial. Mr Dewdney: ''Wo may bo everything as bad as somo people- say wo ! are." "So you are," came from the centre oi tni» group. j "But." resumed Mr Dewdney. "all iwo wish to tell you is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ " "Why don't you proach it?" "Wo do; wo do," cried Mr Dewdney. "Jesus Christ was the biggest Socialist who over walKed this earth" shouted an elderly wharf worker. "So he was; so he was," assented Mr Dewaney. The boisterous interruptions rendered the reverend gentleman's remarks only partially audible, but he was understood to level a severe charge ot grinding the faces of the poor against the English landlord in "Tory Surrey," whence Mr Dewdney said ho came. 'Did you ever shovel coal?" asked a lumper. The reply, if any, wae lost in the laughter. Then several men shouted : "Wo want North," and up stood Mr North, to a chorus of hooting. "I havo fought many a fight and have always fought fairly,", said Mr North. "Oh, oh!" cried tho crowd. "Hoaven hero is not a jug of beer, a pipe, or short hours," continued Mr North. "We want no hours at all" cried a worker. I It was very difficult to follow Mr North, by reason of tho uproar, but he was hoard to say that he would willingly answer reasonable questions. This invitation brought forth a request or a tip for tho Marlborough Cup. Mr North smiled, but expressed no opinion. ''Now, Mr North," asked a grimy interrogator, "is it possible to live the Christian life under tho present competitdvo system?" Air North: ''That system ie wrong." The Questioner: "If the system is wrong why do you advocate it?" Mr North: "I have never advocated it. I have always condemned it." ''Tory well," said the questioner, returning to the attack, "as it the will of God that 300.000 people made in His image and 'likeness ehould die of starvation annually?" •Mi , North: "No; God does not will any to die cf starvaiiion." "But why does God permit it?" aeked the onlooker. Mr North was understood through the ihubimb to place upon men the responsibility for thie unsatisfactory state of things. The interruptions continued for a time, until a gemrtleman, who said his name was H. J. Bakor. got up into the waggon. ■ "Everybody knows me-," added Mr .Baker. He then referred to a letter cent to - the City* Council in connection with tho billiard saloons, written, ..ho said, by Mr North, and charging certain bookmakers, who«n he named, with running th-eir business in connection with tihe saloons. Just tten a eeaman clambered up into the waggon. Everybody cheered. The seaman's face was ifed, Iris voice was husky, but he disagreed with everything and everybody. Mr Baker got dtw-n; so did the seaman. Mr Baker got up again. "I'll give £10 to any cib&rity in Wellington," he said, "if Mr North proves that .bookmakers ao-o using their billiard feloons as a cloak for their bookimaking. If •Mγ North fails to provo his statements then ho will give £10 to some ofoa-ritaible purpose." Mr North: "111 do it." Mr Baker (flourishing a tobacco-bos. aud n pocket-book): "Here's my money."' The crowd cheered. More questions followed rad more disorder, and a final invitation was given by a voirtih (who was on the waggon) to Mir North and his frierds to "join our Socialist party, where we'll give him a warm welcome.

Xcrtin as ho T'as leaving \\ell come liere again to-morrow."