CAUSES OF MORAL ADVANCEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 252, 24 October 1932, Page 6

CAUSES OF MORAL ADVANCEMENT.

"Christian's" latest letter demonstrates a lack of logic. If the world is no 'better morally now than it was one hundred years ago it is. further evidence of the impotence of Christianity to mould character or foster morality. According to him, there is more Christianity now than there was then. Does he see where his argument is leading him? For proof of the ■ statement that there has been no moral or social advance, he refers me to the unemployed, social workers, etc. These undoubtedly can give evidence of existing conditions, but for those of time past one must turn to competent historians, old records, etc. From these it is found, although conditions are yet far from perfect, that in the first quarter of the 19tli century they were incomparably worse. I would especially refer to the condition of the masses of the people. The average hours of labour were 84 per week, as against 44 to-day. That means work from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Sunday. Trade unions were prohibited by law. There were no factory regulations and employers could impose whatever conditions they pleased. The little children, particularly, were not far removed from the days of 'Roman slavery. To earn bread men and women contracted to work 12 and 14 hours a day, six days a week, for terms of years for 8/ to 10/ a week. If such a contract was broken the police hunted the worker down and he was sentenced to imprisonment and the treadmill. Most of the workers during their few hours of sleep huddled in windowless cellars. For leisure hours, limited to Sundays, there were no public parks, museums, art galleries or libraries, even had the majority not been grossly illiterate. Authorities conclude that crime has decreased by 75 per cent in the past 100 years. I could go on to quote figures showing that gambling and drunkenness have likewise decreased enormously. Nor is there space to deal with political and legal corruption and other evils not now in existence; nor with the incalculable benefits conferred by the advance of sciences such as medicine. To properly appreciate the state o£ England 100 years ago one would need to travel in the Balkans to-day. A comparison of the above with existing conditions proves that character, conduct and the general cultural level of the people have improved in a wonderful degree. The chief cause of better working conditions, freedom from disease, increased longevity, recreational and cultura facilities, social amenities, etc., has undoubtedly been, not Christianity, but science. Science, used in tlje service of man, has 'been the redeemer. A.E.C.