WARM DEBATE AT SYNOD

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1929, Page 11

WARM DEBATE AT SYNOD

CANON KAYLL & STRATFORD TELEGRAM FROM PARISHIONERS, CENSURE MOTION NOT PURSUED. (By Wire. —Special Reporter.) Hamilton, Last Night. Heated exchanges were again in evh donee at the Waikato Diocesan Synod on Friday night, when Major J. B. Hina (Stratford) read an urgent telegram from Canon J. L. A. Kayll’s late parish* ioners, challenging statements made by tho canon in reply to criticism levelled against him as reported in a special message to the Daily News. Canon Kayll’s explanation was accepted by th© synod and the vote of censure moved against him was not again brought for-. Ward. Major Hine asked permission to read a telegram from Mr. E. H. Young, Stratford, an absent synodsman, and to lay the communication on the table. Per-, mission was granted. Major Hine the&* - read the telegram as follows: “Tell synod the people here are indignant at the unjustified attack on the parishion-, ers and challenge Canon Kayll to substantiate his statements.” Canon Kayll rose and stated that if the synod considered the telegram it was reducing itself to a standard which should not be tolerated. “The statement I made was that I had heard certain of my parishioners at Stratford tell me that they did not intend contributing to the diocesan funds until the oishop was removed,” said Canon Kayll. “They now tell me I am reflecting on them.” Major Hine rose to a point of order, claiming that there should be no debate on the communication, which had been, laid on the table of the House. Canon Kayll asked the permission of synod to answer the statement made in the telegram. Permission was granted. Major Hine said he refused to ba drawn into a dispute with Canon Kayll over the matter. They would get no further than they got on the previous day. Canon Kayll could find some opportunity to meet the people who had challenged him to "settle the question. Personally, he would neither refute the allegations made nor support them. Ha had simply been asked to convey the; message to synod. “POSITION IN NUTSHELL.” 1 Mr. D. Hay considered Major Hine had put the position in a nutshell and thought there should be no debate. The bishop: The House has given Canon Kayll . permission to answer and < he is entitled to do so. Canon Kayll (heatedly): Major Hine should have shown the telegram to the bishop before asking the permission of the House to read it. The message comes from people who are not members of the synod and reflects on some*, one who is a member of the synod. Iq this fair? Voices: No! Canon Kayll: You have put me up before the whole of New Zealand and said all you can about me. You must realise you should give a man a fair chance of defending himself before you shoot him dead. I say'emphatically that I did not attack the parishioners. Canon Kayll added that Major Hints had alleged that he did attack his pars ishjoners and had placed a wrong cons struction entirely on his words. Ha (Canon Kayll) had asked for an expla* nation of their attitude from certain persons and these persons had replied that they had been told not to support the diocesan funds. He would ask synod what had tho matter to do with it? “I say it is absolutely disgusting if synod fails to accept my explanation,” he exclaimed. He added that he had served synod in the past and his ability as secretary was generally recognised. Hd considered he deserved better treatment. If they were not prepared to give it ta them let them say so. Mr. T. C. Fookes (New Plymouth) ex-< pressed the view that the language Canon Kayll was using was not what it', should be. Did he understand the canon to imply that he was not getting a fait ; deal ? “SYNOD MUST BE CAREFUL.” Canon Kayll: No; I said I believed synod was prepared to give me a fair. • deal. He went on to say that synod would have to be extremely careful about the future communications it received and the manner in which it received them. The telegram in question was not a fit and proper message for the synod to receive, and synod should conduct its business in a better The Rev. R. Connolly (Te Aroha) pointed out to Canon Kayll that Major Hine had before asking permission to. read the message told the bishop what? it contained. The bishop: That is so; I knew what was in it. ; ; Canon Kayll (surprised): Is that BOj' sir? ' The bishop: Yes. . • Canon Kayll said he would delay thei business of the synod no longer. Ho had given .an explanation of his part ill the affair and if synod considered it unjustified it would think anything was ; unjustified. . . Before the synod closed tho bishop said he wished to apologise to Canon. Kayll. He had neglected his duty as.. president of the synod in that he omit- .. ted to rule out of order anything reflecting 'on the character of a member of the synod. Things had become a little confused towards the end of the business. Major Hine had asked him to read the telegram, but he had not ‘ quit® caught what Major Hine had said. Ho would apologise to Canon Kayll for failing to exercise his right in checking discussion. (Applause). . . ■ Canon Kayll also apologised for being the cause of placing the bishop in such a position. 1 The vote of censure on Canon Kayll, proposed at the synod on Thursday afternoon and subsequently postponed, was not brought forward again.