PULPIT DENUNCIATION

Matamata Record, Volume VII, Issue 515, 10 March 1924, Page 8

PULPIT DENUNCIATION

OF MODERN" WASTE. ■■ ',-. (By Observer.) In a sermon delivered at the Morrinsville Presbyterian Church last Sunday evening by Mr. D. E. F. Campbell, the headmaster of the Morrinsville school, some severe criticism of modern waste was made both as regards the people and the State. Taking as a text the incident when the woman annotated Christ shortly before the crucifixion the speaker said that just as some of the disciples had suggested waste in that graceful action, which was inspired by the purest motives, so, much of the seeming waste, as in the noble architecture of the great cathedrals and in their sculpture and paintings, had been the result of deep religious veneration which money never did and never could pay for. It was, said the speaker, quite a popular theory that nature's operations were founded on waste, but this theory was based on a very superficial view. As a matter of fact there was, in the true sense, no waste in nature —only infinite change and constant evolution, from one form to another, and always on the upward march. Billions of tiny marine creatures have created the beautiful coral, mighty forests one after another, in nature's cataclysms, have been buried —result, coal. But when men use coal in engines there is only 5 per cent, of its total energy used, 95 per cent, being wasted. Valuable by-products, such as fuel and lubricating oils, dyes and even some medicines might be extracted, and a greater value still be obtainable from the remainder —coke. Then the seeming waste of trees and plants in shedding leaf and fruit and seed all goes to enrich the soil and make it better for human cultivation, etc. Of more than passing interest to the people of New Zealand was the speaker's reference to Lebanon, which was formerly one of the most fertile districts of Palestine, but is now almost barren because of the destruction of its forests, which acted as watersheds to the countryside. Anu on an immensely greater scale the deserts of Gobi, in China, testified to the foolishness of man in destroying that immense fertile plain by removing its mighty forests. Many illustrations were given in plant, insect, fish, animal and bird life, and the gradual giving way of the lower to the higher forms of life. It was only when we came to consider humanity that we found a ghastly, tragic waste, much of which was preventable. Most of the waste here was due to selfishness and ignorance, culminating in such catastrophies as the last world war. Commercial jealousies, fostered by a venal press and bolstered up by jingoistic politicians under the guise of patriotism, are responsible for most of the class and national hatreds. In this way millions of lives are ruthlessly sacrificed in war, of men who really have no quarrel with each other, and who, in the main, are quite ignorant of the causes which led up to this awful waste of life. Britain promised to " make the world safe for democracy," " homes fit for heroes," "it would be impossible to go back again to the old regime." In the camp and on the battlefield, lord and labourer, farrner and financier, banker and bootblack, manufacturer and mechanic, high and low, rich and poor, had met on common ground and had recognised the bond of brotherhood. Howfar w r ere these noble expectations and aspirations fulfilled ? Ask of the million and a half toilers who have prayed for the right to work, unavailingly, and who have had to suffer the degradation of accepting charity from the State. Yet, added the speaker, we are paying nearly double pre-war rates for our imports. Strangely enough if war were declared to-morrow our politicians (for we have no statesmen here) could find millions for waste and destruction of human life, but if money is required for education, or to increase production, or in brief for any purpose which will add to the sum of human progress and happiness, or free the people from the conscienceless grip of vested interests, wc are told that "rigid economy in expenditure is necessary." We can hardly wonder at the change of Government in Britain, under similar conditions. Then we have the liquor traffic with its appalling waste of life and treasure, and the gambling evil, which has established many records on the totalisator during two later years of stress and strain. We cannot hope to produce a healthy, cultured, happy and propserous people under such conditions. It is imperative that we should learn to adjust our economic and social systems so that more value (Continues" in Next Column.)

shall be given to the imperishable and divine spirit of man. Then as a nation we shall scorn to accept revenue from the vices of the people. Then, education, physical, mental, moral and spiritual, given as a right to all, will lead humanity into a glorious brotherhood of loving service, and pei’chance may even lead (where creed and dogma never can) to the realisation of the Fatherhood of God.