BOLSHEVISM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 137, 5 March 1919, Page 6

BOLSHEVISM

MR. BAYLEY AND THE METHODISTS

A LIVELY INTERLUDE

A Christchurch incident which was referred to iu a Press Association message published on .Monday is reported by the "Lvlteltou Times" as under:—

Mr. YV. D. Bayley, tho Canadian Prohibition lender and Labourite, encountered some opposition when ho addressed the Methodi'.t Conference on Saturday morning. He was introduced by the Ite'v. J. Cocker, ami wns accompanied by members of the Canterbury No-License Council. After urging the Church to gel, into close touch with Labour, he spoke of the aims of the working classes and then referred to Bolshevism. He specially referred to remarks in the inaugural address, in which the president (the Rev. 11. Hi. Bellhouse) dealt with industrial turmoil.

The president, interrupting Mr. Bayley, said that the whole tendency of his remarks were sympathetic towards Labour. He was eiiire that that was the iinnression of the whole conference. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bayley said that a statement was made from l.he platform at the confer-, once that Bolshevism wns not wanted in New Zealand. What did members of the conference kuo-v of Bolshevism?

A member: What we read in tho papers.. Mr. Bayley said that he did not think Ihe papers' made deliberate misstatements, but they published coloured articles.

The president said that there was a member of tho conference who had two son? in Kiusia. On« of them. Dr. Earold "Williams, was the highest authority on Russian affairs outside Russia, and he had described Bolshevism as the cause of all the abominations reported in the pnners. Mr. Bayley said that there w;re no facts <is to what the Russian Government had accomplished. People here had merely liea'-d something about one little corner in Russia.

The I?pv. T. A. .Toughlin: Are you an irnb'iaswd man, "sir? Mr. Bayley: I don't expect that the liquor riarty' will give me a fair hearing 'w'leii I am interrupted in my address lil.-p this in the s Methodist Conference.

The president: That's fall right, Mr. Bayley; thafs all rk'ht. ,AVe certainly don't wont to be nnfnir to you.

Colonel G. J. Smith, who rose at the back of the church and some of whoso remarks were not audible at the ronorters, table, said that Mr. Bayley had come to the conference to spent on Prohibition, and ho questioned very much, if the conference had time to hear him on other subjects.

Tho nresiderit: "There is no wish to interrupt Mr. Bayley's address, but I must confess that durinfr the past few minutes J felt that Mr. Baylev has been unfair." The added that he had understood that Mr. Baylev would come to the conference to speak on the ffficioncy campaign, and he now was taking ndvaiitnpfo of the opportunity to introduce other questions. He asked if it was the wish of the conference that Mr. Baylev should continue on the lines he was

following. The question was replied to by a chorus of "Ayes" from all parts of the church.

This was followed by apnlause. nnd Mr. Bnylev, continuing, «nid thajt h« would go back to tho working men nnd tell them that the Methodist Conference had listened to their case.

Later the president said that the Methodist Church was fully in sympathy with the legitimate rights of Labour, and there wns no force in the Dominion more likelv to lielp Labour than the ministry of that Church was. (Applause..!