CONTENTIOUS MATTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22240, 15 October 1935, Page 10

CONTENTIOUS MATTER

SYNOD DISCUSSION 80CIAL COUNCIL'S REPORT ■ * the league and sanctions Considerable discussion in regard to contentious matter contained in various reports took place at a sitting of the Diocesan Synod last night. The discussion arose on a report of the Diooesan social council on unemployment and social conditions in Auckland. The Rev. Jasper Calder moved that the synod adopt the teport and reappoint the same members for a further 12 months. Mr. J- B. Lusk stated that as the matter waß contentious it could not be considered by synod, as the necessary three weeks' notice had not been-given. He also stated that the report should merely be received and not adopted. Other speakers supported him, saying that in a matter of such importance they had not had enough time to peruse the report. 11 A Grave Responsibility u

Archbishop'Averill suggested that the matter be settled by reappointing the game members of the council. However, the Rev. P. Houghton and the Rev. H. K. Vickery announced that tney would not be prepared to seek reappointment, the latter giving as one of his reasons that he could not understand some of the decisions of the " I have already moved the motion and if I am ruled out I will go out, too," said Mr. Calder. " I will politely bow to the chair, but not very politely. I still have a few friends to second the motion and I will not pull out.'' " There is a grave responsibility resting on Synod and it should not commit itself to anything it does not understand, though 1 feel convinced ( that this is a common practice hero, said Mr A E. H. Harrison. It does not seem decency for Synod to throw out the report." (Hear, hear.) "Even if we cannot seo eye to eye witn the report, let us give some credit to the members of the council, said Archbishop Averill. " What they have brought may be distasteful, but I them credit for seeking after the truth and doing something to bring about a better social order.' _ Eventually, a motion that the report be received was carried. A Motion Lapses

Further discussion arose when Archdeacon Mac Murray moved that the synod express its wholehearted sympathy with the League of Nations in its resolve to put into force collectively the sanctions against Italy as the aggressor in its attack against Abyssinia. When the archdeacon rose to read his motion he was interrupted by the Rev. W. W. Averill, who said that surely this motion was contentious. There were some who considered that the action of the League of Nations was merely playing into'the hands of capitalists by enforcing sanctions " I regard, everything as being contentious," said tho Archbishop, "and if the other matter was such, surely this one is as much so." Canon 0. A. B. Watson moved that standing orders bo suspended. Tho motion was put and lost, and Archdeacon MacMurray'a motion then lapsed.