PEACE MANIFESTO.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 52, 2 March 1929, Page 12

PEACE MANIFESTO.

ADOPTED BY METHODISTS. MILITARY TRAINING DEBATE. COMMITTEE REPORT LAPSES. ' Unanimous support was given at the j concluding session of the Methodist j Conference yesterday afternoon to a | peace resolution, presented by the Rev. ! W. Bramwell Scott, of Dunedin, on bej half of a special committee. The reso- ; lution was as follows: "Inasmuch as the Christian Church is an expression of the ' spirit of the Prince of Peace and an attempt to realise the truth that in i Him all dividing lines, whether of race | or class, are transcended, and inasmuch as resort to war as a means of settling : disputes between nations is not in harj rnony with the spirit of Christ, and inI a-much as war is universally acknowj ledged as a most grievous hindrance to I the triumph of His spirit among men, | this conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand summons all our people I throughout the Dominion to unremitting prayer and effort to secure, firstly, the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy; secondly, the adoption of peaceful methods for the settlement of all international differjences; and, thirdly, the changing of those attitudes and practices which constitute the roots :>f war." The resolution was based on a manifesto issued iast year by the Jerusalem Conference. A report from the Public Morals Committee was also presented by Mr. Scott, i recommending the adoption of the findj ings of the Auckland Synod, which were: ' "That the Government be urged to abolj ish the system of compulsory military : training as an expression of its practi- : cal co-operation in the matter of disi armament. We recognise the value of I discipline to the youth of this Dominion . and recommend the substitution of a I system of cmpulsory physical training I instead of t.ie military system now in operation, and also we are strongly convinced that the laws relating to military training should make provision for exemption from training and service on the ground of individual religious conviction, apart from the tenets of the Church or denomination with which such an objector may be connected." The attitude of t'>e conference towards the Air Force and the defence artillery units was involved, said the Hon. L. M. Isitt, in opposing the adoption of the report. He urged a postponement of the matter until there had been a fuller discussion. "You will not express the convictions of the Church if you come to a decision,"' he said. "You will only express the opinion of part of the Church, and your decision will not carry any weight with the public." The Rev. C. H. Old*. of Lower Hutt, anri Mr. R. C. Clark, principal of Wesley College, both favoured a system of physical training. Criticism of the present system of training was also voiced by Mr. P. W. Sharp, of Christ church. "In the best interests of the Empire and the Dominion, I maintain we are in a better position to preserve peaee if we are prepared for defence than if we sit down without preparation," said Mr. •J. W. Shackelford, of Auckland, in opposing the adoption of the report. A motion was then put that the question of adopting the report should not be submitted to the meeting, and was carried by 43 votes to -37. The report therefore lapsed.