SYNOD AND WORKLESS.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 24, Issue 11, 1 November 1934, Page 5

SYNOD AND WORKLESS.

Following a lengthy debate upon the unemployment, question, the Synod expressed its opinion m the following resolution: — (a) That this Synod of clergy and laity of the Church of England expresses its sympathy with those who desire and are unable to secure permanent work at a living wage, (b) That this Synod urges the Government to abolish what is known as the stand-down week, (c) That this Synod considers that the only satisfactory solution of these troubles lies, m the development of a really Christian spirit m all classes. The resolution was an amended version of a motion introduced by a select committee of the Synod set up to consider a motion with which the Rev. F. I. Parsons initiated the debate. AS OTHERS SEE US [The above debate is deserving of a full report m the Gazette, but space is limited, and perhaps the following leading article on the discussion from the Hawke's Bay Herald will interest the participants therein. We are far from agreeing with all that the article sets forth, and perhaps the "Correspondence Column" desired by members of Synod m the Gazette, may find some contributors m reply. to or m support of this leader. — Ed W.C.G.] THE CHURCH AND THE UNEMPLOYED The resolutions passed at the Waiapu Diocesan Synod express sympathy with ' "those who desire and are unable to secure permanent work at a living wage," and include the suggestion "that the only satisfactory solution of these troubles lies m the development of a really Christian spirit m all classes." There may be a few who believe that such findings make no difference whatever to the general outlook and contribute nothing to the solution of the problem of

unemployment. - 1 - That 'hweyer, is a short-sighted view. It is hot the function of the' Church 1 to usurp the work of the legislators of the country, nor even to hold a brief for any one curative dctrine of a purely political kind. The majority of those who read the account of the ecclesiastical proceedings will be glad that this body, repre-. sentative of one of the greatest spirit-, ual forces m the world, has brought within the orbit of its agenda papers a consideration of the needs and sufferings of Ehe workless. In point of fact it is to the Church that we must look for a really disinterested and dispassionate treatment of such a subject, and there are infinite possibilities for good involved m raising the level of its discussion to the highest eithical arid spiritual limits. It was Spinoza, the famous philosopher, who said that no quesliou can be thoroughly understood until it is viewed "sub-specie aeternitatis" — m the light of eternal verities. , It is more and not less of this point of view that should be brought to bear upon all our mundane difficulties, let the critics of the churches say what they will. It is only when we ascend to a sufficiently exalted plane that we can be rid of the- obscurities that befog us on the lower levels and be able to "see things steadily and see them whole," as Matthew Arnold phrased it: It is a matter for gratification that by the initiative of some, members .. of the Synod the resolutions were cleansed of certain detailed criticisms that savoured more of the political arena than of the detached deliberations of those whose essential interest lies deeper than political opportunism. It was what has been called sanctified common sense that was ultimately .m the ascendant m the Synod's deliberations. The unemployed and all who are bearing the brunt of hard times are well assured of the genuine sympathy of the Church and of the sincere willingness that exists to do everything possible to help them out of their troubles. There cannot be many who will be prepared to deny that "the development of a really Christian spirit m all classes" will make all the difference that is necessary so far as the development of the spirit of mutual helpfulness is concerned. It is only a

change of heart that can bring about a change of policy, and the spirit of religion will change the hearts of the people of all classes m the right direction so that the policy itself will stand to benefit m the best way. X tribute of gratitude is due to the Synod for its real . understanding of its own functions. : — H.B. Herald.