DIFFICULT TIMES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 142, 18 May 1932, Page 6

DIFFICULT TIMES.

DOMINION’S PROBLEMS. ORDER OUT OF CONFUSION. AUCKLAND, May 16. The difficult times through which New Zealand is passing were referred to by Bishop Liston, speaking at the opening of the new Roman Catholio school at Henderson.

“Leaders in many walks of life—members of Parliament, economists, bankers, men of affairs—are intent on solving problems of the gravest concern to us all,” he said. “I, for onp, have confidence in their ability and integrity, and believe that if they seek and receive the co-operation of all classes they will in good time put to right the many grave defects in our existing order that mean so much to the well-being of the people. You also show confidence in the future by the very fact that you have built this school tor your children.” “But let us all be clear that order will come out of confusion only when first things are put first,■ continued Bishop Liston. “The social question is an economic one, but even more a moral and religious one. The moral crisis is more dangerous to the best interests of men than the economic one. And the moral forces of the world have fallen into disorder and need repair. How many to-day are quite frankly telling us that for years past they have, consciously or unconsciously, been sufficient unto themselves and living without God?* To them now come bewilderment, dismay, dread. “To the Christian mind the difficulties of tho day bring, of course, distress, but no undue perplexity. They do but emphasise tne lesson which history has written again and again as to the true meaning and value of human life. The deepest problems of men are moral and religious, and these are right relations of justice and charity as between man and man, and duo- worship and loyal service of our Maker. ■

“Let us on© and all banish thoughts of pessimism and despair, and rather turn with humble confidence to our Creator .and Father. Standing out clearly through the mists ef our common trials and the grosser darkness of our evil deeds is One who has given the world a true reform, and in His own life has given to our lives and homes and work and sorrow and pain a true meaning. Men have turned their eyes away from that light, but it lias not grown dim with the passing of time, and it stands out clear today for all who are willing to see. There are numberless paths, but the Way is one.

“I take leave to add,” Bishop Liston said in conclusion, “that all classes must approach the task to be done in. our land in the highest patriotic spirit. The tasks of peace are no less important and surely no less difficult than those of war. They call for deliberation and self-restraint, for promptness and energy. They demand, especially, that our people should unite their forces for the common good; that the Government should come to the people and trust-them, and should offer the best possible measure of justice to those in need, that the people should give to the Government in their doing or these things the fullest measure of support. The need for justice and charity is imperative, and no less urgent is the need for unity and cohesion.”