CHURCH AND UNEMPLOYED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 75, 10 March 1933, Page 8

CHURCH AND UNEMPLOYED

METHODISTS CONCERNED. CONFERENCE RESOLUTION'S. Attention is drawn to the findings of a sub-committee of the Church Welfare Committee at the recent Methodist Conference in Auckland to a growing spirit of restlessness in the minds of Christian people concerning the relation of the Church to unemployed and the present general economic situation. A series of earlier recommendations by the committee were not accepted by the conference of more than 200 delegates, who wanted something more definite than mere resolutions. The following pronouncements, however, were greeted with applause and carried unanimously: ‘‘This conference expresses its deep concern at the prolonged and desperately urgent problem of unemployment, believing that such conditions are a hindrance to the progress of God’s Kingdom on earth. We believe that an eagerness for the material things of life, rather than a desire for the spiritual, has helped to precipitate a situation in which a super abundance of good things has been put to wrong uses. This can only be rectified by the personal and national application of the principles of Jesus Christ. We accept no suggested solution which will involve the weakening of self-respect and selfreliance, and the removal of the independence of the individual, or that tends to make a normal family life impossible. This conference resolves:—

“(1) We regard as one of the chief difficulties of the problem of unemployment the lack of purchasing power in the community, whwich whas been aggravated by the policy of deflation. We consider that the time has come for a complete overhaul of our present economic system, with a view to a just distribution of the necessities of life.

“(2) That, in view of the wasteful and demoralising nature of much of the work at present provided, this conference recommends the fullest possible extension of the principle of productive employment. “(3) That, while appreciating the earnest efforts of the Government to grapple with this complex problem, this conference suggests that the rates of payment under present schemes ar e inadequate, and recommends an increase in the allowances paid to relief workers, particularly in view of the recent adoption of increased exchange and a sales tax.

‘ ‘ (4) That as the present mode of taxation falls heavily upon the poorer sections of the community, we suggest to the Government that if any additional taxation is necessary' it should be provided by—(a) Taxation of luxuries, together with such wasteful expenditure as drink, gambling, etc.; (b) a steeply graduated income tax. ‘‘(s) We further suggest the consideration of an internal loan, the interest to be a charge on the fund created by the unemployment tax.” It was resolved that a committee of investigation be set up in Wellington, and that it consult during the year with district synod secretaries, with a view to collaboration with district committees in ascertaining the facts of the present economic situation, and report through the district synods to the conference. The committee is as follows: Revs. T. R. Richards, H. J. Odell, W. B. Scott (convener), Messrs B. J. Lynneberg, 14. Hampton, 14 S. Maunder, and J. M. Thompson.