MAYOR’S CONVERSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 August 1927, Page 3

MAYOR’S CONVERSION

MR ARCHER REMINISCENT. (Special to “Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, August 22. How the Mayor of Christchurch (Rev. J. K. Archer) was converted from a young middle-class man, who fancied himself, to a member of the Labour movement, was revealed in the course of his speech of welcome to-day to the Rev. J. Barr, member of the British House of Commons. “I have been tremendously interested in Mr Barr, not only because he is a member of the British House of Commons, but also because he represents the constituency once contested by a man whom I feel inclined to describe as the greatest meji the Labour Party has produced, the late Mr Keir Hardie,” said the Mayor. ‘‘l once had the feeling that the middle classes were sort of superior. I was brought up in that atmosphere. After a few years at a grammar school and later at the University College I began to fancy myself a bit. I went along to hear Keir Hardie speak at Grismsby. I felt it a bit of kindness towards Mr Hardie. (Laughter). Never since I was born, neither before nor since, (renewed laughter). “I don’t mean before I was born (the Mayor hastened to explain), ‘‘but before I saw Keir Hardie or since, have I had such a shock. Methodists talk of conversion in the religious sense. In the economical sense I was converted, and have never gone hack. As a young man and a young minister I had always had a picture in my mind of what an Old Testament prophet looked like, but T had never seen one, and was on the look-out for one many years. I went then to the Town Hall at Grimbsby, Lincolnshire, and a man walked on the platform —a superior, rugged, brainy, cultured, passionate human. He began to talk. Instantly, yes, instantly, the thought Hashed through my mind. ‘‘There is m\ prophet.” -He has been my prophet ever since. Whenever I Hunk ol a prophet of God, not a miserable politician, the vision of the w'onderlul man comes into my mind. 1 am in i he Labour movement to-day, Hie Labour Mayor of Christchurch, because by the grace of God, I was conxeried into Hint movement through the instrumentality of Air Keir Hardie.