“ROTTEN TO THE CORE"

Evening Star, Issue 19026, 22 August 1925, Page 4

“ROTTEN TO THE CORE"

CLERGYMAN INDICTS NAPIER That Napier is the most evil and immoral town of which, there is any record since tho beginning of history is evidently tho opinion of the. Rev. J). Gardner Miller, of Napier’s Congregational Church. “Recking with drink and immorality,” it is the scene of events “so unutterably beastly.ns to preclude their being mentioned in the most vile type of yellow-backed French novel.” It is “ analogous with Romo ” in Rome’s worst days; and to call it “indecent” is to flatter it.

“ Napier is reeking with drink and immirality, and I wish the Press were here. At a social function in this city on Tuesday evening last the police had to he called in. I have had pointed out to me iu Napier, women who wore dressed better than 1 can afford to dress my wife, and these women came fiom hotels after sucking cocktails. A young man told me straight to my face that there would be nothing in life without a ‘spot,’ and the social life of this city would be tamo without a ‘spot.’ What is wanted in Napier is a revival.”

The foregoing (says the ‘ Daily Telegraph ”) arc extracts from a sermon preached last Sunday evening at the Congregational Church by the Rev. D. Garclnor Miller. Interwievcd next day by a ‘ Telegraph ’ reporter, the Rev. Mr Miller intimated that ho would stand by every word that ho had said. “The social side of Napier’s life is rotten to the core,” lie remarked, “ and some of the incidents which occur after any big social functions in this city, are so unutterably beastly _as to preclude their being mentioned in the most vilo typo of vellow-backed French novel.

,? ln the majority of cases,” continued Mr Miller, “ drink has prompted these indecent incidents, and when 1 say indecent, I am putting it very mildly, and being as charitable as possible.” Mr Miller went on to say that accentuated prosperity amongst a certain section of the community had much to do with the social evils that prevailed in Napier at the present time. “It isn’t by any means the lower or working classes who are the offenders,” said Air Miller, “it is Napier’s would-be smart set who imagine that they are being bon ton when they forget the claims of morality, who are the offenders, and their mode of living has sprang from prosperous times, and is analogous with Rome when it was at the height of its luxurious power. “Wo are in danger of forgetting the challenge of to-morrow.” ho continued, “ wheimNow Zealand will occupy an international position which no words of mine can possibly exaggerate. I am no kill-joy, and am out to create a healthy public*’ sentiment, not one on the lines of a ‘ Paul P.ry ’ or a barren pnritanism, but one in keeping with the dominion’s excellent athletic record. “ The churches of this city, including my own,” concluded Mr Miller, “harm forgotten the social implication of their message.”