TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26265, 9 November 1950, Page 3

TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

RETURN TO CHRISTIAN IDEALS URGED

MOTION PASSED AT BAPTIST ASSEMBLY

A motion urging Baptists to “bring once more into the trade union movement the Christian ideals which made it great” was parsed at the annual assembly of the Baptist Union and Missionary Society of New Zealand yesterday.

The motion, put by the Rev. R. E. Bullen, read: "That this assembly suggests to all Baptists who are member! of trade unions that it is their Christian duty in these days, when materialistic forces are rampant, to take an active interest in the activities of their trade union. We believe it 11 the task of every Christian who is a trade unionist to witness to the principles of toleration and free speech. Also we feel that neither the forces of atheistic Communism nor Catholic Action have the original ideals of trade unionism at heart and suggest it is the duty of Baptists to bring once more into the movement the Christian principles which make it great.” During the last year he had been working in an industrial area where many Christians were taking little interest in the affairs of the trade unions. Mr Bullen said. As a result, one of two groups was gaining control —Communism or Catholic Action. The trade union movement had begun in non-conformist chapels, and it was time it returned to its earlier principles.

Moral rearmament was the answer to industrial unrest, said Mr R. Hudson in seconding the motion. "I don't like the Church entering into politics, and this savours of it. said the Rev. R. L. Fursdon. H» moved as an amendment that the reference to Catholic Action and Communism should be deleted from the motion. The amendment was lost.

In reply to a delegate who asked whether the motions brought forward had been "screened" by the public questions committee, the Rev. N R. wood, a member of the committee, said the committee had seen them. “I can't see why we should be frightened of an issue with Communism or Catholic Action which will not emancipate the workers,” he said.

Mr Ernest Brown suggested that the words "and those who share their ideals" should be added to the word "Baptist" in the motion. This was agreed to. and the motion was carried unanimously.