The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE, 19, 1931. CIVIC IDEALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE, 19, 1931. CIVIC IDEALS.

“If local Government and oivio administration are to operate with the highest beneficial effect, it must keep its ideals refreshed by religiin,” said Canon Percival James in the course of his sermon on-Sunday last at St. IP ami’s Pro-Cathedral, Wellington, wnen a special civic service was attended by the Mayor, Mr T. O. 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 t-heir service was 'essentially Christian and their best jvork was done in a fundamental spirit of brotherhood and sympathy and in the firm conviction that all men l\ad their value in the sight of God. A perplexing period of readjustment and reconstruction lies in front of us, a period which will strain the political and. social fabric at every point. The co-operation of all men and women of goodwill is needed. The most distressing social evil of the present day wa.s unemployment. There were countries in which the malady was much gravei’, 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 pub-

lie authorities and by private firms and muivicluais, widespread unemployniti.it was : 4tttended by some want and privation, j nat was an intolerable position to all generous .hearted citi-"O-ss, nut white Luc,e. need be 110 iear 01 a lack or generous response to appeals lei' lieip, uicre mignt well be iear ol tile uaiigtw of maiscruninate chanty, Tnat had twofold results—speedy demorali.sauo'U or cruel neglect. Our civ.itisaLion to-day is conspicuously a city civilisation. The progies s of industry during the past 10d 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 the dream of a Christian society 1* to be reaiisod, 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 church that i should offer a welcome to the Mayor of Wellington and to the councillors of the city who join in worship this morning,” said Canon James. Your presence here, according to time-hon-oured 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 Him who is the, fountain of an 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 ciur city, as of all mankind. We are inclined to take the fact too easily for granted that the tradition of office is high among us and we are not sufficiently thankful that in this Dominion local government as, on the whole, clean and efficient, and in the bands of those who regard civic s«ivice as an opportunity of benefiting tiiose among whom they live and adding to their happiness. When all goes well the citizens are prone to overlook the zeal nnd efficiency of mayors, councillors, and permanent officials, but when the people are dissatisfied they are ready to heap indiscriminate blame upon those who manage their affairs. ‘Who is sufficient of these things?- uui the man who, in Oliver Cromweirs 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 sluiiciing 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 iln th’4"ftttoUtitisni of personal or secular interests, or in any form of misgovernment. Popularity may of may not oome 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 all sections of the citizens. Nothing can he 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.