PEACE AND WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 8

PEACE AND WAR.

JEFENCE ACT REPEAL.

METHODIST CRITICISM.

<USS OF FORCE IF NEEDED."

The annual conference of the .lethodist Church of New Zealand yeserday adopted a proposal by a comnittee that the Government should be equested to repeal the compulsory - .-la.UMa.of the .Defence Act. An ameridnent by a lay member condemning tartieipation. in war under any circumstances . was rejected, and an amendnent the. use of force if ■■■■■■ leeessaiy was carried by 109 votes to The .following motions submitted by :he public questions committee were Adopted;.— " ..■■' • (l>: TMe Conference, having already :mpnatieally declared that war is ncompatitde with the spirit of religion ind inconsistent with the teaching of jut Lord Jesus Christ, feels that a way nasi be found to bring under impartial .survey-the economic grievances and other jnegualltiee out of which the anxieties ind fears of nations-gj*w,**d wkleh -. .Jtccoutt in large meaxtare for tbft fearful :'. race 9 armaments. xue jconievnnoß SrgeiNliat the League of in cbpjiHtrtion witfc those Staietr in jte. membership, should cohvenfe, Sfie*. due preparatione, but at the ; earßest;. practicable date,* a world eonferenee on- these , subjects, open to all States. The subjects with which' such ~» * conference would deal .would neces- '--■'. *ar3y";: include- - protective- tariffs and . ~ obefiides to- world trade, „ aiabfllty' to obtain raw materials, and in outlet {or excess population, and the («tnire admfnietratkin of possession* and mandated territories. ■...;_ ", . ■ Crave Concern. .- '• V- (*). Th» conference expresses Uβ. grave f|| concern at— the universal movement toward rearmament, believing that such rearmstßtent ia -provocative of "war. {3) This conference supports tne proposal put forward by the Foreign SecreMr. Anthon Eden, and by Sir Samuel Hbare, that steps be taken to separate, the Treaty of Versailles from the Covenant of the League of Nations; this resolution to be forwarded to the .. ... Government and the High Commissioner for New Zealand. ■-.- (4) This conference affirms that jusSee and law must reign if we are to reaen a better world order, and that a roller observance of solemn pledges and covenants of nations is an all-important step to that end. .■ : (5) That the Government be requested to repeal immediately the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act. Committee Appointed. The following further resolution was adopted: "The conference, deeply concerned- that the Church should seek to discern clearly- the mind of Christ on the issues of peace and war, appoints a committee of ministers and laymen to examine in fellowship those aspects of the subject concerning which united judgment has not yet been recorded by the conference, and to report to the next conference." The public questions committee was .»sked to consider names for nomination to the committee.