Presbyterian Church and War Problems

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 264, 6 November 1941, Page 4

Presbyterian Church and War Problems

Fresh Impetus To Gambling Fever

GROWTH OF TOTALISATOB INVESTMENTS Per Press Association. TIMARU, Nov. 5. At the commencement of the evening session the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church carried a loyal resolution and expressions of hope that a victory may be achieved which would lead humanity into a new day of righteousness and peace. The Assembly prayed that the King be long spared to reign.

A resolution was also carried: “That the Assembly was convinced of the justice of the nation’s cause in the present war and urges the people of the church to be ready to bear whatever sacrifices the times demand and to persevere in trusting in God till victory came and a peace settlement was worked out."

A resolution offered deepest sympathy to all who had suffered from the dir# effects of war, wounded, sick, prisoners and above all to those who had lost dear ones.

While expressing concern with the growing tendency tor units of the Home Guard to hold weekly parades on Sundays the Public Questions Committee felt that owing to the war conditions it was not possible to secure the elimination of these parades. Moving the report Rev. J., T. Macky said the parades desecrated the sabbath but war was an ugly thing and it was impossible to defend one's country without something having to go. Unless they were prepared to accept the extreme pacifist policy they should bt prepared to assist their menfolk to do some training. The speaker urged holding parade services which would enable the church to reach many men who never attended shurch.

The report of the Public (Questions Committee, referring to gambling, said the fever in this country had been given fresh impetus this year by the way in which it had been used to get money for patriotic purposes. Pressure had been Kought on the Government but nothing had been done. The law was flagrantly broken continually, but this could hardly be wondered at when the Government broke its own laws on- the matter.

‘ * The strongest evidence in which the moral standards are lowered in wartime is the many ways in which money is being Taised for patriotic purposes," said the convener of the Committee (Rev. J. T. Macky). He said that art unions had increased and people who believed they are helping charity by buying tickets in art unions should know that out of their half crowns only 9d went to charity. Mr. Macky congratulated the president of the Canterbury Jockey Club (Mr. A. S. Elworthy) on his appeal for a reduction in racing. The totalisator figures at Trentham recently were a record and the position was the same in other centres. He did not know what they could do about it excepting by their own example to help .heir people to combat all the moral evils.

Referring to the question of conscientious objectors Mr. Macky suggested that the Assembly should meet in private when he was prepared to make a full statement on the negotiations which had been going on between the church and the Government. This was agreed to.