SYNOD'S SUPPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1936, Page 8

SYNOD'S SUPPORT

THE HOUSING SCHEME

CHURCH AND NEW LEISURE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, October 20.

Satisfaction with the intention of the Government to provide better housing conditions for the people was expressed in a resolution of the Anglican Synod adopted today. At the same time it was decided to urge the Government in making its plans for the housing scheme .to regard the aged and infirm as having the first claim on its efforts. Archbishop Averill said he regarded the motion as being one of the most important to comb before Synod. Hft hoped every Christian in the diocese would do everything in his power to help the scheme. To his mind there was nothing more in accord with God's work than such a proposal to provide homes for old people. It did not mite ter 'if the resolution concerned-politics. Sometimes he thought churchmen were too concerned lest something before •them fringed on politics. In this case any Government, no matter what its party, would deserve the support of everybody. The dangers presented by the increase of leisure given by recent legislation were responsible for a motion suggesting that the Church work to see that people used 'their leisure rightly. It was stated that public houses and billiard saloons hadvalre»dy claimed some of the people's new spare time. The Vicar of Whangarei (the Rev. H. T. Steele) moved:—"That this Synod. realising we are entering .'a new age of leisure/affirms: (1) that the pressing duty of the.Church today is to prepare to meet the dangers that will arise when the transition from a work state to a leisure state is an accomplished fact, and (2) that the performance of this duty demands the immediate attention of both the clerical and lay members of the Church." The Rev. W/ Averill said, it-was the duty of Christian people to encourage young people to turn their leisure to cultural, religious, and aesthetic ends. The motion'was carried.