THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8669, 11 September 1891, Page 3

THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY.

Tiie announcement that Mr. F. G. Ewington would deliver an address upon "Poverty Problems, and Socialistic Solutions," attracted a large audience to the Wesley Hall, Pitt-street, yesterday evening, a number of ladies honouring the occasion with their presence.

Dr. Laishley presided, and in the course of his introductory remarks, stated that although he took the chair at a meeting held under the auspices of the Anti-Poverty Society, it must not be inferred that he wholly concurred with the views of that body. He recognised, however, that any body of men who were earnestly seeking to increase the happiness or decrease the misery of the human race were worthy of attention. The well-being of mankind was, he said, the end of knowledge, and to best attain that end all should cultivate a knowledge of the mutual relations Of all departments of knowledge. After referring to the benefits which would necessarily attend the expression of different views upon questions of vital importance to humanity, lie introduced Mr. Ewington as a gentleman whose words were sure to be worthy of thoughtful consideration. After a song had been capital had been capitally sung by Mr. James McGregor and a violin solo skilfully played by Mr. Hood. Mr. Ewington began his address, the audience receiving him with applause, lie began by referring to the vast importance of the question he had to deal with, and by thanking the members of the Anti-Poverty Society, with whose views he did not entirely agree, for allowing him the privilege of speaking from that platform. It would seem stran£e to many, he said, that in a young country like New Zealand such a thing as an Anti-Poverty Society was necessary, that men thought it incumbent upon them to band themselves together for the prevention of poverty. He quite understood, however, that the society did not exist for the purpose of relieving poverty by giving alms, but was really what might be termed a Man's Rights Society. Some of the greatest evils from which the world had suffered were due to the fact that some people torgot that men had rights—rights natural and rights acquired. He explained what he con-' ceived those rights to be, and then proceeded to show that they were denied to a large section of society—the poorer classes, and especially those who were willing to work but could not get work to do. He described the miserable condition of the London poor as an' illustration of the existing social evils, and stated his opinion that it was the duty of all to look these evils in the face. The* question arose : Who was to blame? They would all admit that a great deal of the destitution in the world came about through the fault of no particular persons, but there were also causes which were preventible. One of these preventible causes lie strongly believed to be the standing armies, and others were intemperance, laziness, and overcrowding. A very important problem was industrial competition, the insane rivalries which led tradesmen to cut each other's throat, and for which the public's constant endeavour to get more than honest value for their money was the principal cause. Then foreign cheap labour gave rise to another problem, while a difficulty equally great was to discover how to - relieve poverty without pauperising the people, without making them willing to he helped and to receive charity. And, lastly, came the question of how the increase of paupers and criminals was to be prevented. He quoted a case to show how criminals increased in numbers, and expressed the opinion that the State ought to devise some means to prevent men and women who were absolutely paupers or criminals from propagating their species. Coming to the proposed remedies _ for the present evils, he scouted the idea that in the nationalisation of the land would he found a sovereign remedy for everything, or that State Socialism would prove a certain cure. He did not think the State could manage his affairs better than he could. Judging from recent Parliamentary developments he would not be inclined to let it try. He would be asked what his solution of the problems of poverty would be. His answer was the brotherhood of man, based upon true religion. Unless men were prepared to acknowledge the same common Father they could not meet together as brothers; they were not on the same level. If they won Id not be ruled by the laws of the great Father they would not submit to the laws by which the brotherhood ought to be governed. Love between man and man and man and God was true religion ; and if they could only base a brotherhood on that all the difficulties and evils he had been speaking about would be swept away. This brotherhood would mean that every man would consider not what was good for himself, but what was good for all; there would be co-operation, thrift, and with men in Parliament inspired with the love of brotherhood there would be better and wiser laws. Some might think that this brotherhood was very far distant, but such was not his opinion. With earnest labour on the part of all who desired it, he believed that the brotherhood of man would soon solve all the problems he had been speaking about and alleviate the miseries which had at present to be borne. A couple of song 3 were given by Mr. Harper, the second one in response to an enthusiastic encore followed the address, and then it was agreed that a meeting should be held that night week to discuss Mr. wing ton's address. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was moved by Mr. A. Kelly (vice-president of the Anti-Poverty Society), sconded by Mr. Cowley and carried. A similar compliment to the chairman closed the meeting, >