CIVIC IDEALS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 221, 15 June 1931, Page 10

CIVIC IDEALS

Religion and Its Part SERVICE AT ST. PAUL’S Mayor & Councillors Attend DISTRESS RELIEF WORK “If local Government and civic administration are to operate with the highest beneficial effect, it must keep its ideals refreshed by religion, said Canon Percival James in the course of his sermon yesterday at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, when a special civic service was attended by the Mayor, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, and members of the City Council. Canon James spoke on “The Civic Ideal,” and, enlarging on religious effect on civic administration, stressed that though much disinterested and faithful public service, sweetening and beautifying our public life, might be rendered by men and women who had lent a loose connection with “institutional religion,” they were heirs of centuries of Christianity. The motive of their service was essentially Christian and their best work was done in a fundamental spirit of brotherh’ood and sympathy and in the firm conviction that all men had their value in the sight of God. Perplexing Period. “A perplexing period of readjustment and reconstruction lies in front of us,” Canon James said, “a period which will strain the political and social fabric at every point The co-opera-tion of all men and women of goodwill is needed.” The most distressing social evil of the present day was unemployment There were countries In which the malady was much graver, but it was sufficiently serious in New Zealand. The Wellington City Council had done its utmost to find temporary work for unemployed, but in spite of all that could be done by public authorities and by private firms and individuals, widespread unemployment was attended by some want and privation. That was an intolerable position to all generous-hearted citizens, but while there need be no fear of a lack of generous response to appeals for help, there might well be fear of the danger of indiscriminate charity. That had twofold results — speedy demoralisation or cruel neglect.

Improve the Cities. “Our civilisation to-day is conspicuously a city civilisation,” he . said. “The progress of industry during the past 100 years has tended, more and more, to mass humanity in great cities. If, then, we truly believe in the possibility of making the world a better place we must begin to make our cities better places. If tlie dream of a Christian society is to be realised, then the first Christian principles and ideals must take shape in the ordering of local life. “It is, I am sure, the desire of the congregation of this cathedral churcb that I should offer a welcome to the Mayor of Wellington and to the council-’ lors of the city who join in worship this morning,” said Canon James. “Your presence here, according to timehonoured custom, at the beginning of your term of office; is full of good omen. A time-honoured custom it is, but your coming here is no empty formality. You come publicly to seek the aid of Hun who is the fountain of all wisdom and the source of all strength. Who alone can make frail men able to fulfil the functions of so high an office. Your presence here is a public testimony of belief in the spiritual and material elements in the common life of our city, as of all mankind. I '

Duties of Office. “We are inclined to take the faet too easily for granted that the tradition of office is high among us and we arc not sufficiently thankful that in this Dominion local government is, on the whole, clean and efficient, and in the hands of those who regard civic service as an opportunity of benefiting those among whom they live and adding to their happiness. “When all goes well the citizens are prone to overlook the zeal and efficiency of mayors, councillors, and permanent officials,” said Canon James. “But when the people are dissatisfied they are ready to heap indiscriminate blame upon those who manage their affairs. ‘Who is sufficient for these things?’ but the man who, in Oliver Cromwell’s' phrase, will make a conscience’ of the office he has sought and gained. He will not be disturbed to find himself in a minority—even to find himself standing alone; he will not fear criticism; he will fear nothing except to be convicted by his own conscience of a supine neglect of duty or acquiescence in the favouritism of personal or secular interests, or in any form of misgovernment “Popularity may or may not come to him; but it matters little so long as he has the assurance within himself that he has kept a straight course and has endeavoured to deal equal justice to all parts of the city and ail sections of the citizens. Nothing can be more important to our social welfare than that the heavy duties and responsibilities of local government should be borne by men and women of character and ability.” Co-ordinating Relief Measures. Canon James concluded by stressing the importance of co-ordinating distress relief measures. All who were acquainted with the relief of distress would welcome the creation of the Mayor’s central committee for relief. This committee was not designed to supplant existing agencies, but to work through them, to support them with funds so far as funds were forthcoming, and to enable them to multiply and extend their beneficial activities. It would also prevent the waste of energy that arose from overlapping, and the confusion of competing charitable agencies. “For the sake of the poor and needy, who will otherwise suffer throughout the winter, I earnestly hope that the Mayor's fund will receive the generous support of all those who can help,” Canon James said.