UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21640, 10 May 1932, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —I should think that all who have any interest in religion, and particularly all Presbyterians, would be grieved and disgusted on reading in your issue of May 4 the report of the discussion in the presbytery on the question of relief work wages. Mr Smith moved that the Government be urged to make the wages sufficient to cover the bare necessities of life. Later on, he amplified this by stating that he was not suggesting adequate wages, but just enough to keep body and soul together, Mr Smith should remember that, before the Civil War, the negroes in America were remunerated on this generous scale, but this was called slavery, and the Christians of those days insisted that such conditions must cease. The Rev. D. M'Kenzie, of West Taieri, opposed the motion, although in accord with it. They must not forget their loyalty to the powers that were.” "This gentleman has evidently never heard of Oliver Cromwell or George Washington, because they were, both Christians, though not Presbyterians, and they did not show much loyalty to the “ powers that were." .. I always thought that the first principle of a Christian was the precept. Love your neighbour as yourself. I would suggest that the Presbyterian churches of Dunedin pay their ministers on the munificent scale suggested by Mr Smith. If this is not done Mr Smith and his ministerial brethren should refuse to receive their "modest" stipends and also decline to ■ take an adequate wage, but only sufficient to keep body and soul, together, and they should not receive any marriage or burial fees. If this ia done, no one can then accuse them of not practising what they preach. For years the working man has regarded the Christian Church as opposed to his just aspirations for better living conditions, and the meet-, ing last Wednesday certainly confirms this belief. —I am, etc., P. W. SHACKI.OCK. Dunedin, May 9. Other Letters to the Editor appear on page 1 0.