AN INTERVIEW.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11590, 22 May 1903, Page 5

AN INTERVIEW.

(special to "the riiESS.") • AUCKLAND, May 21. • In the course of an interview yesterday with a "Herald" representative, Dr. Neligan, t;lie Bishop-elect of Auckland, referring to the relations between the Cburch and tie press in London, ea.id:—"ln ten years I have observed a most remarkable change come over the pme in regard to miF.<rions. At the present moment there is not a single newspaper of repute published in London—l exclude the gutter prow, of course—that does not speak, if not -u-ith warm sympathy and approval, at, any rate with respect of all missionary enterprise, and there i« a strong feeling in the 'best part of the English press in favour of Christian Imperialism, and that our Imperialism miiei be Gliristian if it is to ]ast. That strikes me as the most remarkable dhange I have eeen in my life." " Have you found the growth ot agnosticism interfere with the work of the Church in London V the pressman aeked.

" I ffiinkjwhat indifference there is to religion in London is Dot agnosticism, but materialism, and the thing that alarms faithful men in London is the materialism tliat io creeping into our national life through our weaJth, and that our Imperialism is becoming materialism. Therefore there is all the more need of the eanctifying influence of the Christian faith to' prevent any rot, and we must prevent it if we are to live as an Empire."

The re-porter referred to the attitude ol the Church in New Zealand or. the prol»ibition question, and Dr. Negligan, in reply, nnid the whole licensing question in New Z«*lnnd was ro r.evr to him that until he had otudted the problem on the *pot he would not tgive an opinion. "At first sight," he said, "I should say that reduction seems a more reasonable course to adopt. thi»n any other; also, at first iripht prohibition seems to me to be wrong, because it interferes with the liberty of thn subjects but it may "be a right principle in New Zealand. I want to be qpite clear that I am erring you my (reneral impression. But in New Zealand it may .be a right and proper thing; 1 don't know."