CHURCHES OF CHRIST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 88, 14 April 1927, Page 15

CHURCHES OF CHRIST.

DOMINION CONFERENCE.

REFERENCE TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS

In connection with the sitting of the Dominion Conference of the Churches of Christ in New Zealand at Auckland this Easter, reports will be submitted showing the statistics of the Sunday schools. In 1926 the total number of scholars was 3534, as compared with 3383 the previous year. During 1920, 103 scholars joined the church.

The Bible College report for 1927 stated that the work of the past year had been largely of a pioneer character, but steady progress had been made, and a good deal of foundation work done. The receipts during the year totalled £3015 15/5. The expenditure included £2300 under the heading of purchase of property at Dunedin. Other items of expenditure specified, left a balance to credit of £224 11/. Military Training. One of the resolutions to be brought forward reads as follows:— "That this conference, learning with pleasure of the proposals for the cutting down of armaments and the desire of churches generally to inculcate the message of the Prince of Peace, therefore endorses the proposal to nominate a representative on the general committee; and, further, that, in keeping with the spirit of the League of Nations, we call upon the Government to reduce as rapidly as possible the military activities in New Zealand, and that." as a step towards this, compulsory military training should be abolished." Gambling. The report of the social problems committee has the following paragraph under the heading "Gambling":—"We note with alarm the meanace of gambling in our midst, and very sincerely hope that everything will be done by the Government to eliminate the sources of gambling. It is your committee's determined opinion that all art unions should be. abolished, and that a referendum should be taken of the people on the question of the totalisator. The law that prohibits bookmakers should be consistent and make all gamblins illegal."