METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 742, 15 February 1910, Page 3

METHODIST CONFERENCE

\ SUBJECTS FOB ' DISCUSSION. OAMBLIXG *M> TEMPERANCE.-.' .Important.matters'will bo discussed.at the ( unnunl.Meth'odist; Conference, which opens .in'. Dunedin' on Thursday,. February 21. - • • ■ • ." - ; include some] interesting recommendations' contaiiieci. in Hie report o/,the temperance and publiu morals.;,. The.-, committee. records its ompnatic protest against the violation', cf the pledge respecting .the sale '.'of"'liquor;' >m the King Country, antl against-tho proposal to• allow ; liquor 'in'■ the volunteer' camps. The committee'also expresses its gratification ,at the -. increasing temperance throughout, New Zealand, and the decrease, in places,. of the .number of .convictions 1 for; drunkenness. It urges contained persistence, by example and effort, towards ..the goal of "- No-License throughout' the . land.'... .The general laxity ...of ■< the publio in, relation ;to. the. observance of tho Sab-' bath is again deplored by tlie'committee. "-®? 111 .™? 1 ) ! custom ...of' pichicl;irig' ; oa Sunday,.' it 'reports, "and the institution of. 1 week-end: excursions and Saturday-to-' Monday'camps are to be deprecated." Tho conference is.asked, to warn the people" of tlto .Church; against., a growing tendency,' even .' among.- professing Christians,.' to re-., gard .-the lord's Bay as. a legitimate, oc-. casion , for physical recreation.".The practice," states the report,. ."not:' only .tends .-to; deaden the - conscience respect--■ing the sanctity of the day, .but also iii- , duces a ' deplorable irregularity -in attendance at the public means of grace:" .The committee-; has' considered other, aspects ;of, -the - Sabbath'; question;,'notably the playing of golf, aud'the playing/'of 'bands in (he public parks,- and other'places : of. popular resort... '.'On .the. important'question: of: gambling,vvprpeeeds . the; report, "the .committee- recognises tha. measures enacted ~by 'the'/Legislation ;■ for': its ■; diminution;-' and tho: sincere, efforts 'of the - police -for .the .enforcement of ■ the law! - It -believes, • however, 'that vithe totalieator/ .-is- the nursery of . the gambling propensity, and, further,,: that', the licensed"bookmaker has of ; : .'lateV.ibeconie y-a'• greater. ' evil .-than ever,.'-and that'there is a. widespread and, insidious ' habit ,in - factories, and other aggregations'of iueii and. boysi aud'young' Women, .'.in-the. direction of remittingmoney to -/Tattersalljs. : It consequently believes 1 that'-" these' '.three/ evils,.-.lhe : tor, tali.iator, the bookmaker, aud TattersaH's —require, for .'their suppression, neiv. and more drastic legislation, and'.urges", tho, people to. continued arid- increased agitation for . their abolition." . Other matters,. for.- .discussion ( are. the miestion of 'separation . from "Australia, the;: position ,of organising secretary . to', the Bible'. Class movement" the alteration.' of, district; boundaries, and tho, provision' for.; a/theological '-'college. The member:' .ship of'-the, Church* isgiven as 15,938 Europeans and, 1803 -Maoris,' as .compared', with, 15,472-Europeans arid .1579 Maoris for the 'same/ period'-last ; year—a total increase of 7-iO. -. * : '