METHODIST GOVERNMENT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15488, 15 January 1916, Page 13

METHODIST GOVERNMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE FBE33-" Sir, —Would you kindly give nw your opinion on the following point of procedure: At a meeting of church officials hold here recently, I was ruled out of order and prevented from addressing the meeting under the following circumstances: — It was necessary to appoint representatives for the Ashburton circuit to the Conference shortly to be held in Auckland. The law of the church is that representatives to Conference must be. elected by ballot, without nomination and without debate. There is nothing to show that any other question connected with Conference may not bo discussed. And 1 had 't in my mind to make a suggestion for the reforming of our system of representation by making it by district instead of by 1 circuits as at present. (Canterbury *is r.ow in two districts, North and , South.) Accordingly 1, when the chairman announced that "the next question is the election of representatives to Conference." rose and said: "Mr Chairman, would I bo in order in speaking to the general question of Conference procedure and Conference as at present constituted.'' The chairman replied: "Yes, quit©"in order."' I then proceeded to show how, in consequenco of the size of our present Conference (about 250 members), the average representative from the average circuit is, so to speak, lost in the mass, and merely goes to swell the crowd, and is chiefly useful from a spectacular point of view in showing the public and other churchcs what a fine 'imposing thiny the Methodist Church is; and, in short, is really no more than a stago soldier; but practically and even really wastes a fortnight or more of his time, and a fair amount of his money, to little or no purpose, as the real work of the Conference is done by about twenty of the. leaders, who do all the talking, and who actually resent any "outsider" putting in "his spoke." I liad proceeded thus far when I was ruled out of order by the chairman, on the ground that I was referring to the subject of representation and that it might influence the ballot. I now apply to you for your opinion as to the correctness of that ruling. 1 point out that- I had not referred to the ballot then about to be taken, or tried to influence it in any way. T had been speaking in general terms only, without any .special reference lo the Conference about to be held. And I contend that the chairman arbitrarily used his power in stopping me. ami really put an embargo on the right of free, speech which' I for one resent. I must Apologise for troubling you. but as an impartial authority I would be greatly .obliged if you would kindly give me the benefit of your judgment of the ease.—Yours, etc.. GEO.. W. LEADLEY. "We are afraid we-cannot express an opinion.—-Ed. "The. Press.'']