'FROM THE HEART.'

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 162, 11 July 1934, Page 5

'FROM THE HEART.'

CALL TO PARLIAMENT. REMEDY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BISHOP USTON'S ADDRESS. A moving appeal was made by Bishop Listen, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, on behalf of the unemployed when speaking to over 3000 people at a public protest meeting in the Town Hall last evening. "When I received through his Worship the Mayor an invitation to speak to the citizens of Auckland, I felt that I had rather do, however feebly, what I am about to attempt, than seem to leave anything undone that might be in my power," said Bishop Listen. "We have nothing to do here with any political party: we are considering the needs of our city and our country. We have a right to make the position known as we see it; wo have a duty to voice public opinion. This is a call fromthe heart of Auckland to Parliament "I speak not only as a citizen but also as a representative, however unworthy, of the Church, and the needy of body as well as of soul have always been the special charge of the Church. Every living man, rich or poor, is in God's care: every soul, refined or rude, is in His keeping. But—and you have only to think of Christ's own lot on earth to be assured of this—He watches with an especial care over those who cat bread in the sweat of their brow, and surclv over those other millions who at the present time can hardly find even bread to cat. None need the sympathy of the Church as they do"; for none should we, who try to do the Church s work, speak so boldly as for them. "On the one hand, many of our people have lost their grip on work, and are in dire want. Many families are struggling almost without hope to maintain the ordinary decencies of life. Discontent and resentment dwell in the hearts of thousands. On the other hand, a remedy must bo found, and found quickly, for their plight. Waiting on

better times does not now give food to hungry men, women and children; and hunger cannot be sent away to the man in the moon. So far, in spite of the praiseworthy efforts of the Government and other public authorities, no adequate remedy has been found. The support of the unemployed, their restoration to work in the proper sense, is only being plaved with, argued about, restricted, and there is not one in the Dominion who claims that our present system is for the unemployed what we should all wish it to do. If that be so, are wo not bound to try some other < system? j The Only Cure. | ' "Bear with me whilst I set forth what I conceive to be our duty towards J the multitudes of our unemployed,' con- j tinned the Bishop. "First, this is a human problem, for we are dealing with j men, women and children. And a j human being, because he is a human., bein", without need of any other claim, has a right to live and live decently. He has a right to live under conditions, however hard, which will enable him to keep his full manhood. You must not let him sink below the level that satisfies our human dignity. You must not let him suffer acutely from want of: sufficient food, clothing, bousing—and when I say 'vou,' I mean you personally, citizens of the country, to the best of your ability as well as the Government 'of the day. "The cure, the only cure for unemployment is regular employment, and employment in the proper sense. Kindly neighbours, considerate employers, sympathetic and capable public officials— and New Zealand has an abundance of all these —can only soften the distress; they are not solving our problem. "The legislation of our country has in the past entered minutely into the social needs and sufferings of our people. We may, therefore, in the present crisis of our national history, justly call upon Parliament, under the lead of the Government, to use its powero with energy and courage. Home the Foundation. "When the Government at a time of acute need takes upon itself to do what it would otherwise leave alone, let this* be kept in mind: The normal state of man is that every man should have and should dwell in his own home, surrounded by the duties and the decencies of life. If men must leave home, let them be few; if more must leave home

in abnormal times, still let them, be as I few as possible; for the homes of the j people sliould be the broad and solid; foundation on which our country in all j its social, political and religious life j rests. Our country is rich in resources] and our people have ability, energy and j honest goodwill. Should not the Government, therefore, take courage to st.-ike out on bold lines and find work for the people, work that will provide decent living for men, and at the samo time be of use to the country? Have we, for example, no slums in Auckland and other cities, that should be torn down and replaced by proper homes? "You will allow me, I trust, to say this in conclusion," said the Bishop. "There is a God above us, but we have wandered far from Him, both in our duties to Him of prayer and worship, and in those duties to our neighbour He calls upon us to perform. In the days of prosperity we have gone our own way, in the days of adversity we have tried to solve our problems without Him, and the result has been the failures we see round about us. Unless wo turn back to Him we cannot emerge from our perplexities and difficulties."