POLITICAL LIFE OF DOMINION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21685, 20 January 1936, Page 12

POLITICAL LIFE OF DOMINION

AUSTRALIA INTERESTED IN CHANGES OBSERVATIONS BY FORMER VICTORIAN MODERATOR (spbcial to tji* peebs.) GERALDINE, January 19. “Australia is very much interested in the political life of New Zealand, and particularly in the situation which has arisen since the last election,” the Rev. Dr. John Mackenzie, of Toorak, Melbourne, who was last year Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, and who, for 14 years, was minister of St. Andrew’s Church, Christchurch, told a representative of “The Press” in an interview yesterday. “This interest is partly because the leader of the new Government is an Australian, but also because New Zealand is regarded in Australia as a country from which sane and progressive legislation is expected. “There are many on both sides of the Tasman Sea,” he said, “who deeply regret that the relationships between Australia and New Zealand are not as intimate as they have been in the past, and who hope that soon there may be closer relationships, not only commercially, but from the standpoint of those who realise the interdependence of the two countries in many spheres, and who recognise that in the modern world situation, Australia and New Zealand stand off altogether. Lessons from the Depression “Australia is gradually but surely emerging from the depression,” Dr. Mackenzie said, in referring to the general situation in the Commonwealth. “During the depression,” he said, “the people have learned many things—they have learned that a policy of reckless borrowing can only have one revolt, and all classes have recognised in a larger measure their responsibilities to each other, and have been prepared to make, and have made, great sacrifices for the common good.” Speaking of the recovery in Ausitralia, Dr. Mackenzie said recognition should be given to the services of a band of economic advisers to the Government, among whom was prominent 1 Professor D. B. Copland, an old Timaru High School boy, whose suggestions were adopted by the Government. Church Relationships “The relationships between the various Christian denominations in Melbourne is close and friendly,” Dr. Mackenzie continued, “and in ArchAnglican Archbishop oi Melbourne, we Lave a leader who enjoys the confidence of all sections of the Protestant Church. There has been for many years a movement in Australia aiming at the union of the Presbyterian. Methodist and Congregational Churches, but difficulties have emerged, particularly on the Presbyterian side, and at present the movement is not aiming at any immediate action, “There is a wider movement, however. continued Dr. Mackenzie, known as the Faith and Order Movement, which is associated with the larger movement in America and Europe, aiming not at immediate union, but at a better understanding of the positive principles of all the Christian Churches, and of their differences. A world conference of this movement will be held m Edinburgh in 1937, and Australia will be represented.” During the 21 years that he has now lived m Australia, Dr. Mackenzie has been closely identified with the educational side of the Presbyterian Church s work, and he is at present chairman of the Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and also chairman of the Board of Rehgious Education of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. In Victoria, the church has several large secondary schools conducted under its own authority, and Scots College, attended by about 1200 boys, is one of the largest public schools in the British Empire. Educational Work of Church “The Board of Religious Education.” ikni^ aC^n^ le i- Continuec *’ ‘"represents a Presbyterian and Methodist Churches of Australia and t0 J Produce suitable literature for Sunday schools and Bible classes and expert leadership in the sphere of religious education. A joint board controls the publishing of the loca! literature which has this merit—that; it is definitely related to the needs and conditions of the children and in these new countries. The work among young neonle al Pr°s>em is distinctly encouraging,” Dr. Mackenzie said. “Since the war there has been a break with the old wavs roifn esent^ n K Christian truths and the relating of these truths to the practical problems of to-day, yet there can be no doubt that among the thoughtful youth of the world there is a definite swing away from the materialism of past years toward a spiritual conception of life and duty. There is apparent a determination to apply more vigorously and honestly, over the whole field, the Christian principles which we profess to hold.” P