METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8830, 5 June 1907, Page 2

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, June 4. At the. Methodist Conference Dr Brown moved the adoption of the report of the Fiji Commission on the constitution of Fiji district. The Conference agreed that the pastoral session shall consist of all European ministers, and preachers on trial, and one native minister from each circuit. A lengthy debate took place on the question of composition of the financial committee and it was finally resolved that it should consist of four superintendent missionaries, two native ministers, and two native lay members of tho church. The Eev.' Slade said that though he had been away from Fiji for five years he had not allowed his knowledge of the place to lapse, with the result that he had found it to advantage to modify his views. He stood in the Conference not to oppose lay representation but to support it. It was a little hard to go back on his previous standpoint but ho was seeking to do his best for Fiji. They were not forcing anything upon Fiji for tho question had been before the group since 1901 and the people there bad had time to consider it. Lay representation had become a question of importance to Fijians who wanted it and unless they got it there would he a position of danger created. Sydney, Juno 5.

At the Methodist Conference several speakers raised objections to granting Fijians lay representation. The Rev. Mr Slade said that in Fiji young missionaries were thought to he standing between the Conference and the people. That impression could not be allowed to continue. In Fiji' there was a genius for intrigue and Ministers might have all round them the • element of discontent without knowing it. Young men wore known there who, with all honor to their sincerity, did not understand the people amongst whom they laboured.