CANTERBURY DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 73

CANTERBURY DIOCESAN SYNOD.

CHRISTCHURCH, October 14

The Diocesan Synod opened here this afternoon. Bishop Julius, in the course of his Synodicdl address, said that the history of the diocese during the past year, especially during the last three months, had been one of unexampled change. Since the Synod had last met two of the clergy had died, two had resigned and gone to England with the purpose of returning, and four had left the diocese. Retirement and resignation had wrought more changes in the Cathedral than elsewhere. During the last few months they had lost the Dean, Chancellor, four canons, a minor canon, a verger, and the verger’s boy. After referring to the important measures submitted to the General Synod in Nelson in January last, his Lordship said : “Perhaps the most important piece of legislation by the General Synod at the recent session was the passing of the new Canon of Patronage. It must be judged not by theory but by practical experience of its working during the next three years. During the last three months of abnormal strain the new Act has brought me immeasurable help and comfort, and it secures a consideration of the claims of the clergy as a whole that was hitherto impossible.

LABOUR MOVEMENT AND THE CHURCH

CHRISTCHURCH, October 15

The Synod to-day discussed a motion by the Rev. Mr Mortimer: “That there-is a moral obligation on the part of the church to study the Labour movement with the deepest sympathy and further the cause of Labour by every possible means.” Mr Mortimer quoted figures to show that the standard of payment to the workers had not been raised. The movement made for brotherhood and aimed at a renewal of Christian civilisation. Its mainspring was not a desire for material gain, but for justice, for a better society, and enlarged opportunities. The Rev. Mr WeJjb supported the motion generally, hut said the church could not accept a limited definition of the word Labour. Much-organised Labour was opposed not so much to the capitalist as to unorganised Labour. Mr J. Broddiek said he had earned 16s a week as a farm labourer 18 years ago. Now the same work was paid for at the rate of 30s a week. There was no corresponding rise in the cost of living. The church should preach the gospel ol contentment, and not take part in a movement organised by discontented men who believed that “ Jack was as good as his master.”- (Applause.) The Rev. Mr Money said the church should not administer a soporific to those likely to endanger the div.dcnds of well-to-do members of the flock. The duty of the church was to fight injustice. The motion was adopted by deleting the concluding words and substituting: “And use every effort to bring social teaching and faith to bear upon the solution of the various problems involved.” In speaking to the motion Dean Carrington said he hoped that the Synod would not start a discussion on points of political economy. 'they would make very little progress on those linos. In the course of a good many years of experience among colliers and ironworkers he had been greatly struck by the inability of the average business man to appreciate the workers’ standpoint. The labour movement was not in its essence a movement to grab more money. It was founded on a deep-rooted sense of wrong dr injustice. Ho had seen 700 men suddenly turned off from work, after perhaps twenty or thirty years work in the same colliery, simply in order to facilitate some financial juggling by limited liability companies. Such power should not be permitted to be used in such a way. He described the system of “ profit sharing ” devised by a British firm which gave a bonus to the foreman of every dexiartmont based on the output from his depart ment. It was simply a sbbtle scheme to make every foreman a sweater. The firm that tried that lost its best workers and

SOx-iiO liiuuouiiuu <X jC'ttl' ili iiUl'U cash. To see people who lived on the proceeds of their labour rushing about in expensive motor cars to their grouse moors, living on champagne and other expensive, viands, and living a life of luxurious \s\6t.css had its effect upon the mind of the worker. lie saw that there was something wrong, something unjust. The speaker was giving his view, not as the chairman, but as a private member of the Synod.