ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 11

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Sir,—There is an economic law that .is the foundation of the wholo economic system; we might call it the law of service. Anything that has outlived its usefulness or in any way fails to serve humanity, fails to justify its existence. All things must serve humanity. If wo persist in upholding something that fails to justify its existence we bring about a state of confusion. The law of service also lias a very important religious significance From the very beginning God showed that his delight is to serve humanity, and there is no way in which we can worship Him apart from service to humanity. God's greatest gift is undoubtedly the gift of intellect. To neglect a gift, is to insult the giver. Tf wo neglect to use the Divine gift of intellect we are inefficient, and the punishment for inefficiency is poverty, a low standard of living, sometimes death by slow starvation. The return to prosperity can only come through the poor man, not through the rich. The basis of value of everything to-day is relief wages, and the more wp allow relief wages to be reduced, the lower the values of ail commodities and all property will fall. It is useless to defy an economic fact, for the laws of economics are the laws of God's justice. At the present time the farmer is appealing for protection which it is utterly impossible to give him. The prosperity of the farmer depends on the prosperity of the wage-earner, not of the multi-millionaire. The farmer did not make any protest against the cut in wages. It is perfectly true that the farming industry is of outstanding importance, but it is by no means essential that the present occupants should remain in possession. There are scores of unemployed who would gladly work the farm for the privilege of living in the homestead and receiving very small wages. This may seem very harsh, but it is God's justice. If the farmer would receive mercy, he must, first show mercy. Like many other things, the No. 4 scheme hits back like a boomerang. There never was a time when the guidance of the Church was more needed. There never was a time when it was more necessary for us to offer 'our intelligence, no matter how limited it might be, in the service of humanity. It is not sufficient for us to say that economic problems are beyond our comprehension. We can either serve God with our intelligence, or serve the Devil in silent stupidity. We cannot serve two masters. A. F„ Long.