FACING VITAL ISSUES.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18632, 10 May 1932, Page 9

FACING VITAL ISSUES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —May I be allowed to express my keenest appreciation op the arresting and courageous article by Mr li. Valder which appeared in the Waikato Times on May 7. For many, years I have held views identical with those expressed by Mr Valder. It has ever been to me amazing that so many men who are sincere supporters of the Christian churches should be content with modern business policy. With a very slight reservation I am prepared to support the whole of Mr Valder's assertions. He says:—“The tendency of Christian organisations to bargain and compromise with the business world is perhaps unavoidable but the consequences for both, if we arc to judge by the present state of society are tragic.” There should not be any compounding on the part df the Christian churches with any form of social organisation which makes Christian ethics Impossible of iho fullest application to society. Mr Valder admits failure of the modern Christian churches to “declare war on a system which openly places material values before human values.” If this claim be 'true —and lie would be a bold man who denies It—then it is obvious that the Christian churches have failed utterly to interpret the ethics of Christ In relation to man’s duty to his fellow man.

I admired especially Mr Valder’s statement as follows" For my part I am beginning to doubt whether the long overdue reform can be brought about by peaceful means. The business man—the owner of capital—is so obsessed by the Idea that his capital Is the most important factor in his business, that bis vision lias become permanently distorted and it is doubtful whether anything short of civil war will alter that attitude of mind." I do not know Mr Valcier personally, but I feel convinced that he is not a revolutionist in the ordinary sense of that word: lienee his statement Is tho more worthy of tho gravest consideration.

In a very able article printed some weeks ago the Right Rev. Dr. Liston, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, lie quotes Pope Plus Xf. ns saying:—“Unless iscrious attempts a.ro made with all energy and without delay to see that only a just share of the fruits of production lie allowed to accumulate in the hands of the wealthy, and that ample sufTlcicnry he supplied to the working-man, let nobody persuade himself that the peace and tranquility of human society can he effectively defended against the forces of revolulion," and Dr. Liston adds, “Tho Pope Is no revolutionist.” The statements of Mr Valdor and His Highness, The Pope, are of tremendous import, and 1 hope, 11 int. many of your readers will not hesitate to give expression of their views on the grave issues involved in a discussion of tho problem.—l am. etc., .101 LX SYKES. Hamilton, May 9, 1932.