ECONOMIC ORDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25674, 24 October 1944, Page 6

ECONOMIC ORDER

ATTITUDE OF CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN CRITICISM A report on Christianity and the social order setting out the attitude of the church to economic problems is likely to provide one of the main subjects of discussion at the forthcoming general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Hastings. The report was drawn up by a committee of the Dunedin Presbytery and has been revised by the' assembly’s Public Questions Committee. The report states that the existing economic order is open to the following criticism: — 1. While it has made possible a rise in the general standard of living in many lands, it has shown a degree of instability and has permitted periodic depressions in which acute need is suffered by many, while the commodities they need are destroyed or the production thereof is curtailed in spite of the need. Thus the existing order has shown that it cannot be depended on to perform continuously the function for which an economic order exists, namely, the maintenance of and service of life. 2. It allows economic power, to be in the hands of individuals who are not sufficiently answerable to the community, but whose actions are, in some cases, contrary to the welfare of the community.” 3. Its characteristic tendency is to make profit, rather than the satisfaction of essential human needs, the .primary objective of economic, activity and the test of success therein. 4. It tolerates inequalities which in some cases have so little relation to the services rendered to the community that they shock the moral sense. Among guiding principles the report lays down that every individual according to his ability should render commensurate service to the community; and in return for such service he shall be entitled to an adequate standard of life for himself and his dependents. The committee concludes that to-day the supreme task of statesmanship is to promote the lust and effective ordering of life and at the same time to preserve the essentials of freedom.