CHURCH AND LABOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12777, 22 October 1919, Page 3

CHURCH AND LABOUR.

A PLEA FOR ACTION. ANGLICAN SYNOD DISCUSSION. Labour problems bulked largely in a discussion at the sitting of the Anglican Diocesan Synod last evening, when the Rev F. N. Taylor moved;—“ That tho Synod setup a Social Service Board whose duties shall be to study the subjects referred to in the report of the Select Committee on Industrial Problems; to diffuse information thereon; and to lake snob public action as may from time to time bo doomed necessary.” i The mover said that the terms of reference for tho committee were to inquire into aaid report upon the best method of commending the loariimg of Christ to those who were socking to solve the problems of industrial life. It might be that this would include nearly everyone, even the mother of a large family pathetically trying on I'd l)s a week to solve tho problems of industrial life. But more particularly they wished to get in touch wica ihost, who had industrial problems very much at heart, people who were oppressed by the nightmare of the evil conditions which existed to-day. There were two sad things that came under their notice. The first was the largo number of Christian people who did not care much about these things. They did not realise what was part of the very essence of Christianity itself- Again, so many of the people who did care about social problems had come to tho conclusion that they could do without the religion of Jesus Christ. Their great task was to bring homo to these devoted and earnest social reformers the great truth that there was no hope of permanent and universal social betterment apart from the religion of Jesus Christ. Tho committee had begun its report with a record of shortcomings, but there was also an acknowledgment of thanksgiving that the Church had douo not only something but an immense deed. All that was done to make bearable the life of the trenches was done by the Christian Church, and during the influenza epidemic’the Church showed that it was a roady-mado organisation for ' dealing with grave problems that arose suet denly. Their religion must have a message on the problems of industrial rm’ , Things were done which the Church should encourage or protest against as the case might be. Within the next ten years' there would be many buildings in tile city that were not there now, and many businesses that were not in operation now. Were they going t-o bo on the old lines of competitive greed or models of Christian institutions? A great deal depended on the Church. There was .scope for Christian effort in such a thing as a'communal kitchen, whore thousands of dinners could be cooked, so saving much useless labour. Something of that kind was an imperative necessity, and sooner or later business men would combine and do it for their own profit. Why should not the Church step m and do it? There was also the question of the fish and fruit supply. These in New Zealand should i>e cheap and easy to obtain, but they could only be had occasionally. Here practical fields of enterprise. Air G. Biltcliff seconded the motion. AN AMENDMENT. The Rev J. R. Hewland moved as an amendment—“ That the Synod request tho Standing Committee to refer tho report io the Social Service Sub-commit-tee for tile purpose of studying the subjects referred to, with instructions that they should circulate information thereon and take such public action as may Horn time to time be deemed necessary.’’ Air C. H. Clibborn seconded jhe amendment. Bishop Julius said that he was very grateful to the Select Committee for i lie report. He had taken a great interest iu tho subject for many years, and ho hoped that those best able would go on with the work. All he could do was to endeavour to guide others and set them working. He. suggested that the Standing Committee should set up a c-onuuission to include, if possible, members of the Special Committee to deal with the matter. Care should be taken that tho matted' was not allowed to hang over for another year. Air H. D- Andrews said that they would havo to feel their way. The comwould have to work without being impatient for immediate results. He was entirely in favour of the amendment. Tho Rev W. H. Orbed said that the church got the credit of being indifferent to many matters of importance, and he desired to see provision for immediate action. Air G. 0. Stoning said that the man in' the street could give too many examples of men prominent in the church who did not put Christian principles into practice in their businesses. The Church required to pul its own house in order first; The Rev R. Carrington said that in New Zealand one class of people wore getting richer and another class were getting poorer and poorer- They had to face that as they went about. They saw people who could not got houses to live in, and some who, when they did get them, found them not fit to live iu. In a country that was a foodproducing country, food was not as plentiful and cheap as it should be- All that could only he put down to one thing—social sin. Dean Carrington urged the acceptance of the amendment. The question was a deep and difficult, one, and he was afraid to speak on it for fear of giving himself away. He was deeply in sympathy with the Labour Party in their industrial struggles, and he was certain that a groat many of the employing class were heart and soul with tho reformers in trying to get social conditions bettered, but they were tied up with old customs. The amendment was carried.