PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 21878, 15 November 1934, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

PROGRESS IN TEMPERANCE WORK One of the major reports discussed at yesterday afternoon’s session of the Presbyterian General Assembly was the report of the Temperance Committee, which was presented by the Rev. L. M. Mr Rogers commented on the lack of enthusiasm in the work for which the committee stood. This he attributed, in part, to the preoccupation and worry created by the depression. Another contributing cause was the failure of “ partial Prohibition ” in the United States. The church needed to realise more than it had done how efficient and extensive was the work of the New Zealand Alliance, which deserved the support of the Assembly and of the church. . The speaker referred to the agitation which had taken place within the past year for the placing of licensed houses in the King Country. That had been opposed, and as a result of the work of the secretary of the Alliance and of ministers who had co-operated with him in the King Country, there was now no possibility, at least for a decade or so, of Parliament agreeing to the placing of licensed houses in the King Country. (Applause.) The speaker contended that if it had done nothing else, that had justified the existence of the Alliance. Mr Rogers referred to the many improvements which had been effected in the conditions governing the sale ot liquor. If their “ hitching of their wagon to, a star ” had effected these things, then the work of the church and of the Alliance had been worth while. He sounded a note of warning lest at the coming elections they might lose some of the ground which had been gained. Referring to the movement tor the redistribution of licenses from some of the smaller centres of population to larger ones, he said that what was wanted was not the. redistribution ot these licenses but their cancellation. The committee requested the Assembly to urge the Temperance Committee ot Presbyteries to co-operate with other organisations for the furtherance ot temperance in their areas. The Rev. James Milne moved as an addendum that the committee be instructed to look into the British experiment at Carlisle m the State ownership and control of the liquor traffic. Mr Milne explained that he had examined the experiment in 1927, In that year it had just paid for itself, and was now running in that area as a splendid success in moderate reform. He believed it would be an excellent thing for the Assembly to lookmto. Mr Rogers refused to accept the addeThcnßev. J. Davie (Masterton) contended that the habit of drinking intoxicants among young people was increasing. Excessive indulgence in alcoholic liquor was one of the greatest hindrances to the work of the kingdom of God* . , . j The recommendation was adopted. ' A further recommendation was that the Assembly again urge the more intensive and extensive teaching of temperance in Bible classes and Sunday schools, and the encouragement of bands of hope. - , The recommendation was adopted. It was decided, on the committee s recommendation; to approve of the settinrr free of.about fifteen ministers tor a period of six weeks before the next noli, and to authorise the committee to send out an appeal to all members and adherents to vote and work for the carrying of Prohibition at the next ejection. ~ . It was decided that the Assembly reaffirm its support of and A ?v her t nce the the New Zealand Alliance, the W.C.T.U-, and kindred temperance oragreed to instruct the Temperance Committee to confer the Public Questions Committee with a view to impressing on the Government the need for stricter observance ot tne laws governing the sale or liquor. Mr Milne moved his former addendum as a new motion. The speaker expressed his belief in the State contro of the liquor traffic as a means of getting something tangible accomplished in effecting reforms m the conditions governing the sale ot liquor* Mr Wylie seconded the motion, which was defeated, BROADCASTING AND THE CHURCH. The Rev. E. J. lipler (Auckland) presented the report of the Special Committee set up to go intothe matter of radio broadcasting. The recom mendation of the committee was as follows That a standing committee on broadcasting be set up with the following powers:—(l) To represent the Assembly in all matters connected with broadcasting and on negotiations with the Broadcasting Board and station directors, and with authorised bodies appointed by sister churches. (2) To consider and formulate lines of policy and development of broadcasting in order that the church may make full use of facilities afforded, and to secure adequate representation on all adviso } committees. (3) To assume _ general supervision of all the ehuicli s b casting activities m collaboration with Presbvterv committees.’ . Mr Tipler said broadcasting had come to stay, and it was going to have a great effect upon the churches, the resolution would clothe the committee with adequate powers to deal with the position. . The motion was earned. It was decided that the committee should be located in Dunedin The report of the Committee on Broadcasting was presented bj MrUeicub, who said that the standard maintained in broadcast services was accept ablv high, and some of the speakei. who took part were known from one end of the dominion to the other. The committee recommended that the Assembly urge upon the hroadcasting authorities the need for a ccntial religions advisory committee for the do minion, in accord with the example of the British Broadcasting Corporation, with representation of the various religious bodies on a census basis. The recommendation was adopted. It was also recommended that the Assembly acknowledge the increasingly urgent need for the church s having its own broadcasting station-, and commend the claims of such an enterprise to the attention of evangelically-minded churchmen. . , , Mr Kerens emphasised the great possibilities of radio broadcasting in the work of the church. .There were many things, however, which could not be done through the national stations, and which made the acquisition or a church station very desirable. “We Jvmst make use of this new instrument, winch

God has placed in our hands,” he conWilkinson raised the point that if this were done that would stait the ball rolling,” and it would open the door toward every other church doing the same thing. .That would tend to accentuate denominational dxtview was contested by the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Kurow), who said that the starting of a church paper or the building of a new church might just as well be said to increase denominational differences. The more church-owned stations that there were broadcasting the message of the Gospel the better. . , , The recommendation was adopted. SOCIAL SERVICE WORK. Presenting the report of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, the Rev. John Paterson (Wanganui) mentioned the question of the after-care of the boys and girls brought up in the homes. This was being done as effectively as possible, but it was a veiy difficult work, and in some cases it was impossible. Most of the young people, 'however, were still in close touch with those who had seen to their, upbringing. One of the difficulties m dealing with these children was to avoid creating a false idea that they were to be pitied. Whatever might be said of the plight of the children beforehand they certainly stood in no need of sympathy once they had entered the homes. An inspector under the Chilf Welfare Act had told him that the Presbyterian homes approached more nearly to the ideal of a home than anything else she had seen. ' The deliverance, which included the Assembly’s acknowledgement of the grave existing need for the extension of the work to provide for the aged and infirm and infants was adopted. On this subject an overture was received from the Wellington Presbytery urging the Assembly to establish a fund to be devoted to the care and treatment in a home or homes of aged and invalid poor members or adherents of the Presbyterian Church who, on evidence, were shown to require it. The Assembly were asked on decision to establish such fund to direct how it might be most effectively created and administered. In support of the overture Mr Wilkinson explained that it originated in his own charge, where there were several elderly indigent people belonging to the congregation who had been forced to enter institutions conducted either by the State or by other churches That state of affairs, he said, was a reproach to the Church. The whole Church, he thought, envied Dunedin its Ross Home. Other such homes were needed in the main centres throughout the Dominion. It was decided to refer the overture to the P.S.S.A. Committee for inquiry, consideration, and report. DR. KAGAWA’S VISIT. On the motion of the Rev D. Cattanach (Drury), it was decided to express satisfaction at the projected visit of Dr. Kagawa and to appoint a committee to co-operate with the National Council of the Y.M.C.A. in arranging liis itinerary. It was also decided tc make a grant of £SO, if this were necessary, towards meeting the expenses of the tour.