BISHOP'S ADDRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21976, 10 June 1933, Page 16

BISHOP'S ADDRESS

SANCTITY OF CONTRACT OUTSPOKEN COMMENT “VOLUNTARY” CONVERSION. In his presidential address at the twenty-ninth synod of the Diocese of Nelson the Bishop (Dr W. C. Sadlier) made outspoken comment under the heading of moral outlook with reference to recent decisious of the Government. The Bishop said: — “ One of the books suggested for the perusal of those who are being trained as State school teachers enunciates the principle that *in practice it does not matter what is true, but everything depends on what people believe to be true.’ There are many other signs of the abandonment of moral principles which hitherto have been held to be vital to the interests of the well-being of mankind.

“ In the long run there is little to be feared from positive atheism because it is repulsive to the intellect and especially to the heart of man. The greater menace to spiritual and moral life is the ignoring of the moral, character of God, and the implication that human life is irrational. In my address to the synod in 1932, I said: ‘Up to the year 1932 we were under the impression that a contractual obligation, once formed, was binding on both parties thereto, and could not be broken by either without the consent of the other, or without a penalty in case of the violation of the contract. But the facts presented to us this year in the compulsory reduction in interest in investments, show that ouf impression a® to the moral and legal obligations of contracting parties was unfounded. When the Nelson Diocesan Trust Board invested the capital of the Diocesan and Parochial funds it did so in good faith that trustees’ securities, as provided in the Trustees Act, were the safest of all investments. But it appears that this is not so. In common with many, I deplore the abandonment of these moral standards, which have been the pride of the British race.’

THE LOAN CONVERSION. “ Since I made the foregoing statement the moral outlook has increased in gravity. I have referred to the heavy taxation upon our trusts. It may be that this taxation was necessary for the solvency of the State. I am not a professional politician, but hold that those who are in charge of affairs are assumed to be the best judges of what is necessary for such solvency; but I am a citizen who exercises his rights as a citizen in accordance with his conscience. How I exercise those rights is a matter for myself alone. As president of the synod I am not only a citizen, but am in a position of responsibility as a religious leader, and what I have to say further I am speaking under a deep sense of responsibility to you and to the members of the Church in this diocese.

“ I have said that it may be true that the recent taxation was necessary to'the solvency of the State; but I must now add regarding the recent conversion loan that had it been frankly made compulsory very few would have complained. From what I know of the people of New Zealand I am convinced that the same spirit of self-sacrifice as was evidenced in the war period, would again have been manifested. With the fullest sense of responsibility for my moral convictions I must register my protest against the methods adopted. They have inflicted grievous wounds upon public morals. These methods have left us in such moral bewilderment that there is no certainty as to what may happen in the future.

MEANING OF VOLUNTARY. “The most alarming thing is that words which have a standard meaning throughout British civilisation have been used in a manner inconsistent with any accepted definition. It was announced that the conversion loan was ‘ voluntary/ but that those who declined to convert would be taxed 33 1-3 per cent., and this penalty was described as an inducement to convert. Now in * The Times Dictionary ’ the definition of the word ‘voluntary’ is ‘procuring from the will; done of or duo to one’s own accord or free choice; unconstrained by external interference, force, or influence; not compelled, prompted, or suggested by another; spontaneous; of one’s own accord; free.’ The use of the word * voluntary ’ in such a way as I have described is utterly in conflict and inconsistent with the ordinary rules of language, and with our ideas of moral responsibility. ' In no sense can an act done under menace be termed ‘ voluntary.’ I am aware that Locke and Benthain hold that the term ‘ sanction or enforcement of obedience’ is applied to conditional good as well as conditional evil; to reward as well as to punish; but I am also aware that many jurists hold that this extension of the term is pregnant with confusion and a departure from the established meaning of the terms. For the same reasons I believe that the use of the term ‘ inducement ’ when a penalty is meant is not in accordanc with the meaning which men attach to the term to-day. It is very distasteful to me to feel bound to say these things; but my duty to the synod impels me to express my concern for the good name of our people, and my alarm lest the sophistries used to justify these methods may rebound upon the community. I think it possible to envisage a day when they will be quoted as a precedent for further courses of action and similar cynical explanations will be forthcoming.