WOWSERS' WAPINSHAW

NZ Truth, Issue 508, 13 March 1915, Page 8

WOWSERS' WAPINSHAW

Cold-water Christians Confer m Christchurch

Methodist ' Mummers and Public Morals.

(From "Truth's" . Christchurch Rep.)

;At Cnristchurch, v for the . past eight days, the New Zealand Methodist Conference have been busily swapping congratulatory slobber, soaking tea ana adding at least one case to the list for discussion at the next sittings of me j Supremo Court. Between times a large amount of tiddly-winking, trumpery small talk was indulged m by the Methody moneymakers and it apparently didn't occur to them until the eleventh hour of their spin, -when- 200 of the 250 cackling: calamity mongers had taken their departure, that the question of PUBLIC MORALS HADN'T BEEN TACKLED. To the uninitiated, Public Morality would seem to constitute the chief oxcuse for the existence of parsons and, indeed, the backbone of the whole conference. The Methodomanlaca, however, were sufficiently engrossed with bun-struggles and garden parties, to narrow down their time for essential religiouß discussions and, whilst no matter relating to the finances of the Methodist Church was allowed to pass without thorough flagellation, the allimportant question of public morals was allowed to stand on the scrapheap and bo trotted out on the dying moments of the conference, for discussion by one-fifth of the ordinary number of the conference delegates. So that almost without discussion, questions relating directly to the welfare or otherwise of the public, were covored by a couple of wißhy-washy resolutions which tho wowsers rely upon to awaken tho public's responsibility concerning tho CLEANLINESS OF THEIR MORALS. The Conferonco's Idoa of surmounting the big subject, fizzlod put m the carrying of the following resolutions: That m the interests of public morality Conference strongly protests against permits being granted for any form of gambling In connexion with efforts made i for tho patriotic or relief funds. That this Conference views with deep concern the large number ov serious offences against girls and young women m tho Dominion, and urges tho Government to have tho law so altered u» to provide (a) that tho age of consent be raised to 18 yours; (b) that criminal proceedings In respect of such offencci may be instituted within twetv* months of their occurrence; tc; that the defenco of apparent age Hhall be no longer available to nn accused person. That this Conference regrets that the important question of the Blblo-in-Schools was introduced at so I late an hour and m «o thin a conference that a voto on the Question would have carried no weight. In carrying "the previous question" tho Conference desires It to bo known that such a voto Is not to be ! regarded as a reversal of its own policy on this question. Similar resolutions were also pasßod, deploring the Increase of gambling, Sabbath desecration, and the growing practice of people taking wcok-end trips, to the detriment of the Church collection plates. It was decided to send certain of tho resolutions to Bill Massey and then, with the air of a noble band or Christians who had done tholr duty, the ] Conference dispensed.