PARTY & CLASS SPIRIT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1676, 17 February 1913, Page 6

PARTY & CLASS SPIRIT.

DISCUSSION AT METHODIST I CONFERENCE. Somo discussion took place at th« Methodist Conference on Saturday regarding tho following clause of tho report Of tho committee on "Tcmporanco and Publio Morals":— 1 Wo deploro tho rapid growth of a spirit of antagonism, suspicion, and oven of Irate between different sections of tho community over social questions, Tho old spirit of'fair-play for all sides, and the capacity to differ without quarrelling, which has been the boast of our'raee, 6eoms to bo passing away. In its place is arising a most un-Christian and un-English party and class spirit, which' is most injurious to sochl well-being and good neighbourship, as well as destructive of church life. We advise conference to direct its ministers to inculcate, especially in dealing with' tho young, moderation in temper and epoecn, and charity in. judgment. Tho Eev. T. G. Carr moved the deletion of tho clause. ' Mr. L, M. Ifiitt, M.P., seconded the motion: "I absolutely doily," he said, "that matters so far as class feeling is concerned are getting .worse." Ho could remember when farm labourers spont tlio festive season singing songs reflecting on their employers. Tho Rev. T. Trestraill did not; agrco with Mr. Isitt. Not only was the'spirit referred to displayed in Waihi, but it came to Thames, and was so bitter at times thiit it was not safo for men to walk the streets. ' Mr. Isitt maintained that tho rosohy tion would be taken as a reflection on Labour.' • ■■■■-..."■ The Eev. J. H. Simmonda considered that the. resolution was not wrong, but it might bo misunderstood. ;It might be thought that thoy were taking Bides. Tho Eev. T. Trestraill sala that there is no reflection on either sido. Another speaker was of opinion that tho clavs'o should bo revised. He had never known an ago in which the workera liad roceived "fair play." Tho Roy, H. Bulls closed tho discussion by moving th© previons question.