BISHOP’S RECENT SPEECH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2408, 23 March 1922, Page 2

BISHOP’S RECENT SPEECH.

AUCKLAND MAYOR CHEERED. Auckland, March 21. A large audience assembled in Town Hall to hear an address ■'by Bishop Locke, of the Philippines (who is visiting New Zealand in connection with the Methhdist centen- ' ■ary). On the Mayor (Mr J. H. Gunson) rising to introduce the Bishop, the audience made a remarkable demonstration, rising and cheering him for some minutes. Air Gunson said lie took this as an impersonal tribute to the attitude he had taken up toward recent allegedseditious satements, and as an expression of the support of the citizens. HIBERNIANS SUPPORT BISHOP LISTON. The No. 81 branch of the Hibernian Society passed a resolution,: “whole-heartedly condemning the attacks on Bishop Liston, and extending to him their warmest appreciation and unbounded and unalterable confidence.” The Hospital and Harbour Boards carried resolutions approving of the Mayor’s (Air Gunson) action in regard to Bishop Liston’s speech.. An Orange resolution is also being forwarded to Mr Gunson. Wellington, Alarch 22. The Welfare League has sent the following telegram to Air Gunson, Alavor of Auckland: “The New land Welfare League expresses its] emphatic- disapproval of the antiBritish and seditious speech delivered by Bishop Liston at Auckland, and endorses your action in the matter. Such a speech can only tend to engender bitterness and strife among our people, and enr courage those whose efforts are directed at the destruction of the Empire.” ',

AN IRISHMAN’S REPLY. v . .8 Mr Maurice Foley; a well-known Queen City business man, writes to the Auckland Star as follows: — In connection with the recent utterances of Dr. Liston at the Town Hall, I feel it my duty to record a protest against the attitude that our assistant bishop took rip at the Irish gathering. The leaders in both the Herald and Star have called on some one to vindicate and ex'plain what position we take up in regard to the Irish settlement. As a colonialborn Irishman, I am voicing the sentiments of the great of New .Zealand Irishmen in stating that we are in..full agreement with the treaty made between England and Ireland. I speak with authority on the-subject, as I have had much intercourse recently with men of Irish birth from different parts of New Zealand. lam satisfied that as far as England is concerned she has done her part, so'now the quarrel must be between Irishmen themselves. Ireland as a republic does not enter our thoughts. I have not met anyone among the Irish people who advocates it. In fact, we are dead against it. I could go much further into the subject, but I feel that I have given sufficient evidence to prove that my fellow-Irishmenyin New Zealand (the great majority) are loyal to the Irish Free State and the British Empire".