CHURCH AND LABOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8560, 24 October 1913, Page 2

CHURCH AND LABOUR

STATEMENT BY MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. October 23. The attitude taken up by members of tho Labour party towards the Christian churches was criticised by the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) this afternoon at the opening of a sale of work in aid of the Presbyterian Orphanage in Bligh’s road. His Worship said he had been very interested in the discussion which had been going on with regard to the Church’s relation to Labour, and the Church’s alleged want of sympathy with the working man. He desired to dissent from the views expressed by members of tho Labour party. They had said that the Church could not convert starving people, and that might be so, “but,” Mr Holland added, “I deny that there are any starving people in Christchurch.” Mr Holland went on to say that whenever he had made an appeal for help in a deserving case there had been a ready response. For that reason ho was sure that the Church was doing its duty, and ho was only sorry that the Labour movement should take up a hostile attitude towards it. He was sure that Labour had no more genuine friends than it had in the Christian Church, but the Church could not identify itself with any party. It numbered in its adherents both employees and employers. Ho was prepared to giro credit to the Churches that to-day wo should bo living under such pleasant circumstances.