ITINERANT SPEECHES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18807, 20 February 1931, Page 13

ITINERANT SPEECHES.

To the Editor of the “ Timaru Herald.” Sir, —Your correspondent “Give it a Rest,” under the above heading in this day’s issue of your valuable publication makes a complaint concerning what he or she styles an objectionable racket made by two men on Caroline Bay in giving their views on religion. May I, as the principal one concerned, be allowed a small space in your columns to state the facts of the case. Having decided to visit your beautiful town to conduct an open-air Gospel Mission, I applied for and was granted the necessary permission to do so. I considered Caroline Bay a suitable locality to hold my meetings. This, by the way, is my first visit in this capacity to your town, and I have no desire to disturb the peace of mind of any resident of Timaru, permanent or otherwise, by my endeavour to spread the good news of Salvation. I may mention your correspondent is not quite correct in his or her statement re Sunday afternoon last, as by advertisement in your publication the meeting was to have started at 3 p.m., whereas we waited till the band from Christchurch had finished, and then only spoke for 45 minutes to an interested audience. Most of these, I may mention, were visitors from Christchurch. It would be interesting to know if your correspondent would raise the same objection if the Labour Party, or the Communist Party held their meetings there also. I am inclined to think not. In conclusion, I may state, this is the first time any objection has been raised with regard to my open-air mission work in New Zealand.—l am, C. E. KNIGHT, Evangelist, Timaru, February 18.