VOICE OF CLERGY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 227, 25 September 1935, Page 11

VOICE OF CLERGY.

PUBLIC PROTEST. UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. BEFIiY MADE TO MINISTER. "We are the group of clergy which has caused all the stir and comment durinj the past two weeks and we are quite proud of it. We scored well in the first round and won our objective, namely, tc gain public attention and arouse the Christian conscience to the needs of the unemployed." So stated Monsignor H, F. Holbrook in opening the meeting at the Town Hall last night to protest against the treatment by the Government of the unemployed. A similar meeting was held a fortnight ago and since then public attention has been focused on the resolutions carried largely because of the attitude towards them by the Minister of Employment. Mr. Smith. About 2000 people were present ait last night's meeting. It had been stated—and it was not to the credit of the persons who had made the statement—that the clergy were animated by political motives. They were animated by one dominant thought, declared Monsignor Holbrook, the wellbeing of the unemployed. "We would degrade our position by stooping to those devices which our enemies have suggested against us. The welfare of the unemployed is not a political matter, but one of simple justice. The group representing Christian thought has the right to discuss these matters. In so doing they are simply discharging their duty. Until a solution is found and the unemployed placed in a better position we will continue with our work." Referring to the suggestion that two officials should be sent from Wellington to diagnose the position in Auckland, the speaker added that to put it bluntly they were "fed up" with conferences. In saying this he did not want the audience to think that they were ?et lated by wounded pride or were standing on their dignity. The association of clergy had taken part in conferences with Ministers of Employment and their officers time and time again. They had made practical suggestions and had been promised nearly everything from the* moon to a handful of stars—but they got nothing. It was no part of the clergy's duty to propound schemes for the Government. They had done more than a man's share as Christians and citizens to co-operate with the Government to solve the problem. "The Government has failed miserably, and it i 3 our duty to point out the failure of the national unemployment scheme," he added. Advice in the Past. Regret was expressed by Mr. Kenneth Melvin that the Minister of Employment was not present, a statement which was greeted with applause. It was hoped that the Minister's new interest in might have resulted in a worthwhile visit to Auckland. After quoting a letter to the "Evening Post," Wellington, from a Presbyterian minister supporting the Auckland protest, and .pointing out that similar conditions existed in the southern city, Mr. Melvin dealt with the criticism that had been directed against the group, that their criticism was not constructive. "We will accept the knowledge of intellectual bankruptcy in high places and do as we are told," said Mr. Melvin, who added that every suggestion which the Prime Minister had made this week as remedying the present position, had been suggested to the Unemployment Board three years ago by the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Workers' Association. Yet nothing had been done until an election drew near. Mr. Melvin criticised the latest proposals for placing men on standard rates of pay as being unsatisfactory, unless the workers' transport costs were to be repaid on the easiest terms, provision was made for his family to accompany him, and election rights not invalidated. "We challenge the Cabinet to make a humanitarian investigation of the position of the unemployed. If the does not know the facts, then let him get out and allow a capable man to come in. The reason why we ret used to meet him is because there is only one thin 0 we would say to Mr. Smitli-get out. £1,000,000 Left Over. Mr. Melvin then attacked the P res ®"t relief and sustenance rates as b ""S t best the Government could provide, when at the same time it was announccd that £1,000,000 of the unemployed fun had been carried forward from last year. It had been carried forwaid to P J around with in an election ycar. He also attacked the pnncipie under the building scheme and gave two instances where, he said, . would been advanced for projects which voukl have been undertaken without any sub sidy. One was an insurance build.ii w Wellington, which received £ 3°>°°° ® . sidy, and the other a hotel !. nn That Coast city, which got , hav£ „7t 8 hS y to th do S 3 f GSment which Board had been to reduce the men to the last stage, until t ' 1 stand up. The meeting, he ead,■ * h ° onnose anv reduction in the unempioy tax until the position bad been 111 The Rev. W. W. Averill said that his task was to rebut the charge of the Hon. S. G. Smith that the clerg haj nothing constructive to offer. he submitted first that it. wa immediate task to offer these , .1' but to point out the principles on wh j the Government should act, he contends that the clergy, with the cit.zens hacl put forward schemes which .would have gone a long way to remedying tress of to-day. It was no use sayin that New Zealand was not in as bad a position as some other co . unt . rl^- t i l should take the lead again « industrial S"r p „t l 'rmVrlftrence, with "the Minister. If the "gj 11 " still wanted suggestions let them di D among the dust of then- arc i • The Rev. M. G. Sullivan said that tlie cler-'y had made definite proposals for said That what was wanted 3 Christian revolution achieved by Ohi tian means. There must beaeompta and radical change of outl °° k n^f "I™ deal based on the appreciation of the value of the human person. Courageous Policy Needed. The following resolution, movedbj the chairman and seconded by the Resv. A. J. Greenwood, was carried without dissent:.— . "That this representative meetin„ o! citizens of Auckland is of the opimor tl>!it the tragic failure to discover i maetical solution to the conditions o.

acute distress which have existed in tins favoured country during the past five years shows . conclusively that an effective remedy is to be sought only in a courageous and far-reaching policy of government. That this meeting hereby urges the Government to take immediate steps to provide an adequate remedy, and to restore to the unemployed a just and equitable standard of living that would provide the essentials of decent, civilised home life with the means to enjoy its lawful rights and to discharge its necessary obligations. . That this meeting affirms its conviction that our faith in God renders it impossible to believe the present economic situation to be in accordance with His will, or that it is impossible for it to be so altered as to enable His people to make wiser, juster and more effective use of the increasing productivity of the country." A man at the back of the hall asked whether the chairman would accept a further motion protesting against the sending of married men away from their families to country camps. The chairman agreed, and the motion was carried. The chairman expressed thanks to the Kev. C. G. Scrimgeour, of station IZB, who, he said, had offered to broadcast the meeting, but had been refused permission by the authorities unless he fulUlled the impossible condition that he should submit the text of the speeches for perusal beforehand.