PASTOR FROM WALES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 279, 24 November 1928, Page 19

PASTOR FROM WALES.

BRITAIN'S PROBLEMS TO-DAY

COAL AND TRANSPORT,

PROTESTANTISM AT STAKI

Mount, Eden Congregationalists are to be congratulated upon having secured the services of the Rev. Robert C. Roberts 8.A., 8.D.. who accompanied by Mr* Roberts and family of three, voting children reached Auckland' tins week.. He comes with a high reputation for scholarship and asnlousneM, and in addition to his work as pastor of the Congregational Church, LlanUati North. Cardiff, he edited the "ConneRational Magazine," published by tne Cardiff and District Congrcgation.il Board. Speaking to a -Star reporter Mr. Roberts said he was charmed with what little he had seen ot New Zealand. Wellington, he thonpnl wonderful for situation. A friend had driven him up the heights at the back. just as tho lights were coming out in the city down below, and he had seldom seen a more impressive sight. 'J he glimpse he had got of Auckland had won his heart, and the glorious weather filled him with admiration. He was looking forward to a happy time in his newduties, and much appreciated the great kindness he had met with since landing. Coal Mining Reviving. "I think things have touched zero," he said when asked about the present position among the mining in Wales. The position had been very bad in the Montgomery Valley, but there are promising signs of improvement. One or two pits had started work again. At the present time there was a big process of amalgamation going on. The details were not fully worked out, but when they were, the coal industry should certainly'look up. Under the amalgamation, work would be concetrated on the

J better pits, and the coal would be more t economically worked. Much was to be I expected from the more scientific treatj ment of coal, and when low carbonisation J came to the rescue, enabling use to be I made not only of the coal, but of many \ by-products, the industry should enter { en more prosperous times. A Mr. Roberts did not think political \ problems would loom so largo on the 5 horizon as in the past. Tho general \ strike and the miner's strike had affected \ South Wales more than any other pan Jof tho country. Important coal con- | tracts had been lost, and even after the i strikes were settled it did not mean an 4 1 end to the distress, because there were

no orders to fulfill. In tho past South Wales had suffered much from the operations of the extremist section of Labour. The men had had deplorably bad leadership, but now tho saner clement was taking charge. The bitter lessons of recent years had been taken seriously to heart. Motors v. Trains. One of the most prosperous industries in the Old Country at the present time was the motor industry, which was simply- forging "ahead. "Good roads throughout the country had led to a phenomenal increase in motor transport. Road traffic was now a very big thing indeed, and it was a menace to the railways. Before Mr. Roberts left legislation, which had been put through all iU stages', gave the railway companies the right to run transport on the roads. What would happen now would be that the big railway companies would run their own motor transport »n the roads, and that would mean that eventually they would absorb the smaller concerns at present running motor traffic on the roads. The railway companies would, by a system of linking up the road and rail transport, have a complete network oi services all over the country. There was no doubt the motor tapped many areas that were not so conveniently served by the railways. A system of competition between motor and rail was inimical to the railways, but by a judicious combination of the two England's transport problem would be solved, and the many millions invested in the railway systems—which were absolutely necessary—would be safeguarded. Mr. Roberts said the road building that had gone on in Great Britain in recent years was remarkable, magnificent highways being laid from one end of the country to tho other, comparatively speaking. They were splendid road:, and on.some of them four buses could run abreast. Prayer Book. Controversy. Whilo the Congregational Church was not directly interested in the struggle

over the alteration of the Anglican Prayer Book, said Mr. Roberts, when that subject was mentioned, they were all keenly interested, as it was felt Unit Protestantism was at stake. Congrugationalists were, naturally tolerant, but they were certainly Protestants, and as such watched the course of events with deep interest. Mr. Roberts said there was a strong opposition in Anglican ranks to the proposed alteration of the Prayer Book. Perhaps it was not so vocal as the other side, but it was very powerful indeed, and especially so when it came to an issue. That fact was plainly visible when the question cyanic up in the House of Commons. The really weighty speeches were those in favour of the Protestant issue. Knowing this fact Mr. Roberts was not fearful about the result.

Among the younger clergy of the Anglican Church there was a strange feeling of unrest', a feeling of wanting something definite. Personally he put it clown to the aftermath of the war. Something of the same kind was notieeahle among all ranks, and he felt sure it was the effect of the ''loose end" sort of feeling that followed times'of a great upheaval such as the war.

It was hard to say how the Prayer Book issue would go eventually. Disestablishment was of course the logical outcome, but history proved that things did not always work out logically. However, he felt sure the English temperament was so inherently Protestant that the faith was safe.

■When it was mentioned that anyone reading the papers during the controversy would not be so sure of the presence of a great body of strong opposition to the people who wanted to interfere with the Prayer Book, Mr. Roberts made a rather unexpected explanation. He pointed out that of late there had been important amalgamations in the newspaper world, whole strings, of journals now being under single control. He hud been informed by a very prominent newspaper man that on that single control much interest and influence had heen secured by people who might be expected to favour such movements as that which had been defeated when the House of Commons emphatically refused to approve the- proposed , alterations to the Prayer Eook. , •