NATIONAL LIFE OF N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24368, 21 September 1944, Page 6

NATIONAL LIFE OF N.Z.

APPEAL FOR NEW ATMOSPHERE MODERATOR’S ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 20. An appeal for a new atmosphere in national life to weld sectional groups in Christian brotherhood for the spiritual and material advancement of the Dominion as a whole was made by the Rt. Rev. D. C. Herron, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, in an address to members of both Houses of Parliament at Parliament Buildings to-day. The Speaker of the House of Representatives (the Hon. F. W. Schramm) presided over a large attendance. The Bishop of Wellington (Bishop Holland) was also present. The occasion was part of Christian Order Week, now taking place in Wellington. i After the war* there would be a reaction to the unity of outlook now prevailing, said Mr 1 Herron, and a question which would have to be faced was whether leadership would be big enough to overcome the pressure of sectional interests and groups whose tendency was to put self-interest before national interest. The spirit of unity among all groups in Britain during 1940 had been an example to all mankind. It was the sacrifice that the people made together which bound them together. Any disintegration after the war would be disastrous to human progress, and that must not be permitted in New Zealand. There was cast upon members of Parliament, who were responsible for the leadership of the Dominion, a heavy responsibility. The world,-and New Zealand with it. would be like molten metal, and it depended on the quality of leadership how the shape of things to come would be determined. “I realise something of your difficulties,” said Mr Herron, ‘‘and know of the wounding unfairness of much of the criticism thrown from outside, but we of the churches wish you to know that, we are behind you in your endeavours toward shaping a better order for the Dominion which you serve.” Duty on Parliament The greatest difficulty that members of Parliament had to face was that national life in the Dominion tended to divide into groups determined not to make any more sacrifice than other sections, and to get from the Government, as much as possible. The duty placed upon Parliament was to weld the country into a spirit of brotherhood. It was only a spirit of co-opera-tion that would save the land from disintegration into factions working against its wellbeing. . Co-operation depended on the spiritual atmosphere, and it was the churches’ mission to create it. The cooperative spirit was working wonderfully in Sweden and Denmark, and he would suggest that the Government send a small delegation to study what was being achieved there. The tendency toward division into groups in New Zealand resulted to a large extent from its insularity. Everything possible should be done to encourage the younger generation particularly to travel, and see what was being done abroad in hew ventures in co-operation. The greatest binding force was religion. Moral problems could not be dealt with by legislation alone, nor could unity be compelled by the making of laws. Something more was required in a nation—the atmosphere of the race for material gain had smothered the spiritual atmosphere, and it must be restored. The terrible events of the period between the wars could occur again. There was the Atlantic Charter, and the decisions of various international conferences. These would not come to anything unless based on a spiritual foundation, and working in a new atmosphere of brotherhood among men. One of Britain’s sources of strength in the dangers of the war years had been the religious tradition handed down through generations, and this had sprung from the religious basis of her education system which, as Mr Churchill had emphasised, was the rock on which the British character was built. One of the most serious defects of the New Zealand education system was its secularisation in 1877. At that time the churches were divided on the question of religious education, and must accept their share of responsibility for the present system, but to-day they were unified. Religion must be restored in the schools. “We of the churches recognise our responsibility to hold up your hands in the great tasks ahead,” said Mr Herron. “We believe God will give you strength in your task of building afresh, and creating a new atmosphere in this Dominion.” A vote of thanks to Mr Herron was proposed by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Hollands Elephant Kills Keeper.—Shortly after Queenie, the elephant at the Melbourne Zoo. had made her last trip for the day with a load of children, she accidentally trod on her 70-year-qld attendant, William Lawson. While leading Queenie back to her enclosure, Lawson stumbled and fell, the elephant’s foot crushing him to death. Queenie, a 48-year-old elephant, has been at (he zoo since 1901. her work being to carry children on joy rides round the zoo. Lawson had been her attendant for 30 years.—Melbourne, September 19.