AT THE QUEEN'S STATUE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 193, 9 May 1908, Page 6

AT THE QUEEN'S STATUE.

REV. d. J. NORTH HEGKLED. SPEECHES BY SOCIALISTS. Several hundred labouring men, gathered about tho Queen's Statue in tho lunch hour yesterday, listened attentively to the Rev. -Herbert Hobday, heckled tho Rev. J. J. North, and acclnimed the Socialistic sentiments of "Comrade" Fitzgerald. Tho attitude of tho Churches -to labour and of Socialism to tho Churches was the subject of all three speakers. THE "LITTLE MORE." "We hiivo tho .same objects as yourselves," was Mr. Hobday's ringing declaration. The Churches, ho insisted ; were equally desirous with Socialists of seeing the material conditions of the working mail improved, but they believed that when all the demands of Socialists were granted, something else would still bo necessary. The men who should gain these demands must bo pure, and true and noble. Vice was not confined to tho poor or virtuo-to tho rich. It was not enough to alter a man's environment; tho cities might be made as lovely and as pure as possible, but there was moro to do than that. Ho had worked among tho dockmen," and during tho dockmen's strike in London hundreds of their children had to t-o school without their breakfasts. (A voice: Why?) Why? Because the stato of things was'utterly wrong; ho agreed that it was utterly wrong, but ho could not alter that. Ho did the best thing that he could do; ho helped to feed those' children, and 100,000 breakfasts were provided for them. The same : people who did this bought boots and shoes so that tho' bare feet of those children should not .be exposed to the cold snow, and what, happened ? In moro than one instance, ho might. say in a dozen instances, tho boots were taken off the youngsters' feet and pawned for liquor, - by fathers who wero slaves to drink. There was an electrician employed in the London docks at a salary ,of £4 a-week: When ho fell out of work through drink, the speaker spent twomorn,ings searching for employment for him. Ho found work for him in a quarry; tho man stayed there for a week,' and whon ho got his money spent tho wholo in drink. (Voice: So would you if you worked in a quarry. —Laughter). Theso and other cases were proof positive that though , o'no might give a man work and fair treatment, if -the man himself was selfish, eaten up .by greed, something else must be done as well. The Churches; said"Let us have all the demands of ; Socialism,' so long as , they aro just/ let philanthropy do its utmost—it can't, do too much, let tho'politicians have the most ideal and noble programmes—and pray God they may bo fulfilled in the hear future,, but when they have done all they can do, if you leavo the man whero you found him all their work will;bo in vain." In-Christianity was thp, motive.power for tho moral alteration of the man, and when ho was altered he would help in the alteration of his environment. Ho ■ thanked _them for the honest, fair hearing they . had given him. (Applause).

V y BABEL. . ... The Rov. J. J. -North , stood , up amidst a babel of'interruptions. Ho asked for five minutes' hearing to speak on highly interesting matters.' Tho interruptions continued, and when Mr. Hobday pleaded that his'brother minister should bo-given a fair chanco the roply came that Mr;- North: did "not desorvo;:it. Mr. North refused to answer questions till the conclusion of Ins. five minutes' speech,-so a worker who seemed burdened bv the inquiry asked Mr. Hobday if it was possible' for a man to > lead a really Christian life under present economic conditions; • " I. believe it's jolly hard," Mr. .Hobday replied, but it is possible." . Mr. North, persisting in his address against a hubbub of interjections, referred to tho alliances with other forces which made man, naturally a defenceless creature, stronger than tho other ani'miils.' Thero was one supreme power with which ho must also ally himself. He quoted Matthew Arnold, whoso works were printed by Hho Rationalist Society, -to the effect that it was ouo of tho great sterling facts of history that there was somo power outsido men that. made ' for righteousness and unselfishness.- Christians believed that this was tho power of God. At- this stage Mr. North's' remarks were inaudible for interruptions, which took the form of '"Timers up," " Off-side," "Frcokickj" and "They don't want you." A Wellington crowd, persisted Mr. North, was always known as a fair crowd, and it should bo prepared to hear what a man' had to say. After speaking for a few minutes more, ho gave place to Brigadier Albiston, 6f tho Salvation Army, who was received with cheers and banter.-; ' ' " The Brigadier said that he had no need to ask tho sympathy of the 'audience for himself. Ho did not doubt that some of those before him were disposed to hear with rover-' enco'the message- that he brought. -The reverence was not displayed ostentatiously as the Brigadier proceeded, and ho was moved to- remark that .a friend, below, no doubt, would sooner have a pint of beer than anything else, but some day he would be of a better mind: After this the speaker had a tolerable hearing, except for a strong reference to the Army's shelter for " casuals,';' in Buckle Street. , ' . CAPITALISM BLAMED. A Socialist, who professed to be also an earnest. Christian, expressed his disagreement with the "tactics" of tho churches. Ho believed that the ethical teaching of Christ was in the twentieth century, used to exploit the worker instead of to omancipato him. .Christianity.-as-it was taught in this century had proved itself a complete failure, and as long'as'ministers of tho Gospel allied themselves with Capitalism; ■ and * allowed their interests to be subordinated by Capitalism, the workers, would remain in degradation. ■ Ho made a' scathing reference to the Army's shelter in Buckle Street, and further stated that he denied the right of any capitalist to starve a man and then throw charity -at him. While tho ministors were preaching, people in Wellington wore practically' dying of want, misery, and starvation. How long would they allow it to exist? If men would live a decent life, they must abolish tho present competitive system. Mr. North invited any of the men who cared to, discuss these matters further to meet him at supper this evening in the Vivian- Street Baptist Schoolroom. . After the ministers had left, " Comrade " Fitzgerald made a voluble speech. He declared that the churches were upheld by the capitalist class in order to teach-the workers humility.- Rather should the, workers be prouder and' prouder of the development, to which, as men, they had attained. Until tKe Socialists, began in Wellington, no one had seen the Rev. Mr. North speaking from the Queen's Statue. He was too-dignified, but now lie could be seen thero daily. As the 'Socialists were going on,. they' would soon have Sir J.-G. Ward down there on a wagon. '(Laughter and applause.) Someone asked if it would not ho better to get rid of Sir Joseph Ward. The speaker said.that he would be satisfied with Sir . Joseph if he would see that every working . man, obtained a proper wage, and that every capitalist was put:to useful labour. (Laughter.) , The crowd then dispersed.