MODERN SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 24 March 1925, Page 7

MODERN SOCIETY

MR. MACDONALD DEPLORES TENDENCIES

SIGNS OF DETERIORATION

Bt TBtwnAFn— Press Association -Oopteight

(Rec. March 23, 7.40 p.m.)

London, March 23,

Speaking at Porthcawl, Mr. J. R. MacDonald said that he wished the churches would open their eyes to the materialism ot modern society, ft is not a question of creed, but of practice. , “When,” he said, "you see the stuff that is now filling the newspapers it makes every decent man and woman blush and wonder what is coming oyer society. J It is a sign of deterioration coming upon those who are not doing decent work. The power of wealth is enslaving humanity. I favour property, since a person cannot express Insr’-'i-viduality unless he has enough to make himself Independent. Instead of ruling humanity through the pocket, we shonuld by an organised effort create more wealth and • distribute it so that all shall enjoy that wealth.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [According to another version of the same speech, Mr. MacDonald, after the reference to deterioration, said: “I say that these things are confined to but one class, but if societv had more capacity for sacrifice and was thinkingand acting honestly, fewer of these things would happen.”]