RECONSTRUCTION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1642, 20 May 1919, Page 4

RECONSTRUCTION.

THE CHURCHES' PART. A most interesting address on the doty of the churches in respect to the problems of industrial reronstraetior was delivered by Mr J. A. Frostick at a meeting of the' Christehurcb Council of Churches last night. The Bev. J. J, North introduced the speaker, and said that the assembly was very much concerned on the question of social reconstruction, Mr Frostick said that he represents no organisation so far as the address was concerned. His work hitherto tad been in the direction of endeavouring to find means of securing greater economy in production, the elimination of waste, and the scientific conservation of human energy, in order to wcure the greatest material efficiency with the minimum of fatigue. Thesej and the solution of the labour difficulty, were the great problems that were "exercising the minds of the ablest men of the world. In the past the churches had been apt to hold aloof from full discussion on these questions and the governing authorities appeared to be too much absorbed in the protection of their creeds and dogmas. He considered that the religion of the future must be intensely practical There was a unanimous opinion that a new era was opening out and that old methods would have to be cast aside. The ministers of the churches should not live in the \itiated atmosphere of material profit and loss. Although there was, by comparison with Britain, no degradation of labour in New Zealand the great industrial problems were the same. The speaker suggested that the influence of the Church should be exerted to bring about a better understanding between employers and employees. The Church was essential to social reconstruction for there had to be found a common ground on which to bring Capital and Labour. It was the duty of the ministers to understand the daily environments of those who laboured. The present Labour movement, contended Mr Frostick, was in his opinion nothing more than a legitimate desire to enjoy a fuller and better life. For the present generation all that could be done was to encourage the aspirations of Labour when expressed upon the lines of justice and right, toendeavenr by organisation to shorten the hours of labour and increase the rates of pay, provided that full recognition was given in these matters to the three interested parties—the worker, the employer and the public. The Council of Churches might endeavour to arrive at a decision as to what part the Church should take in the great work of reconstruction. The future of the country would be determined very largely by the comprehensiveness of our national system of education. They had lived too loDg upon the traditions of the past; their system was more than defective. Many of the schools were out of date and teachers were overworked and underpaid. A much longer period of eompulsorv training was necessary. Mr Frostick concluded with a strong appeal to the chuTches to take an active, practical interest in the question of social reconstruction. A vote of thanks was accorded to the speaker and an address, which was to have been delivered on the same subject, by Mr A. W. Beaven was held over until'the next meeting.