THE BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8731, 19 November 1896, Page 3

THE BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH.

."THE POOR IN LONDON." His Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch lasb evening addressed a good audience m the Wear-street Hall on the subject of the Loudon poor. Archdeacon Gould, who occupied the chair, said that an introduction was not necessary for one so well known as the Bishop of Christchurch. Bishop Julius said that he was glad to be able at last to address an Oamaru audience. He had to speak that evening on London, and particularly the poor of London, among whom he had labored. No one could imagine the slums of London, or of the greatest American oities, nor.oould one live m these places without feeling intensely the wretchedness and Bqualor of the poor. What was ib that caused this great congestion ? Some said that it was caused by over populabion, and thai this could be remedied by emigration. But he did nob think that this would make any difference, for to take 10,000 people out of the city would be like trying to lower the water m the harbor with a bucket. After all the London citizen was not a fit person for the i colonies. The conditions of labor were j so unlike that a man had simply no I ohance out here. Nor was he sure that I there were too many people m London, \ or that the poverty was caused by over ( population. Of course some said it was the \ result of thriftlessness, bub while some of ! ib was so caused, he believed that more ! was due to the drunkenness of the very ; poor. About an average of one-third of their wages went weekly m drink, For years and years Bishop Julius had fought ; against the liquor traffic, and would do so still. There was a frightful amount of waste and wnt caused by it, but he did not believe the remedy lay m prohibition, though he did not condemn the prohibitionists for their work. He believed that impure liquor and competition caused the larger part of the trouble, and the I evil could not be dealt with till private iinterest m the trade was taken away. It 'was perfectly true that poverty was caused by drink, but ib was also true that drunkenness was caused by poverty. The poor must be given decent homes to reduce drinking. Charity was only the opiate for a present pain, it was only increasing the evil. He believed m a charity which went to the root of the disease instead of inbensifying It. It was only by trying various methods that the real remedy would ab last be discovered. His Lordship said ha believed tint the competitive system, which was simply clambering on the corpses of drowned brethren to keep our heads above water, was . mainly responsible for the problem. , After all the great changes thab were bo Improve these things were not to be ac? complished by political or legislative enactments, but it would be by a revolution m the hearts of men, and an approach to the Christ-like feeling. He concluded by ! an appeal to the people of this colony to I rise above parties and class distinctions, j and to aim at principles which would go I for the uplifting of the race. I The lecture was full of illustration, and I kept those present m continual sympathy 1 with the lecturer. I Archdeacon Gould, on behalf of the | andienoe, thanked his Lordship for his 1 very interesting address. (Applause). ■ His Lordship returned thanks, and the H proceedings closed.