SCENE IN CATHEDRAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16201, 26 November 1926, Page 7

SCENE IN CATHEDRAL

PARSON AND COUNCILLORS. POVERTY-STRICKEN SOUTHWARD. LONDON, Nov. 15. An extraordinary scene occurred at a municipal service in Southwark Catliedral yesterday. The Rev. O. B. Poach, who was preaching, described Southwark as poverty-stricken, sordid, and squalid, whereupon Mr. Westcott, a councillor and an ox-Mavor, rose and exclaimed, "Be fair!""

Mr. Poach ignored the protest, and said that nobody lived in Southwark except those forced to do so by business or poverty. Mr, Bird, a councillor, shouted, "That's unfair! " Mr. Roach added that Southwark had been three times burned, and he regretted that the fire brigade recent* ly had to put out another promising lire. He urged Southwark to make history and bo the first municipality to boast, "We never framed a policy with one eye on the next election." His exhortation Mr. Westcott characterised as libellous.

The Mayor of Southwark, Alderman Hewitt, said to-day:—"Mr. Roach knows nothing whatever about Southwark, ami does not possess the slightest authority to discuss it. Until Sunday it was our pleasure to listen to words of appreciation from great churchmen."

Other councillors indignantly assert. that. Mr Roach misused the sanctity of the church to attack public men. Repeating his charges to-day, Mr. Roach said:—"The Prince of*Wales characterised the property as damnable, so I am in good company."

The Prince of Wales owns consider able residential property in Southwark.