Men of Vision Wanted

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7025, 8 December 1932, Page 6

Men of Vision Wanted

MAYOR STRESSES NEED OP CHRISTIAN SERVICE.

The need for a stronger grip on Christianity was stressed by the Mayor (Mr. A. E. Mansford) when speaking at tho breaking-up ceremony of tho Talmerston North Convent schools yesterday afternoon. After thanking The Very Rev. Monsignor MacManus for tho welcome extended, Mr. Mansford stated that when sneaking the previous year ho had mentioned that if we looked at tho world changes taking place and considered it as part of the plan of the Divine Architect we received an entirely different viewpoint. The advance made in mechanical and scientific knowledge—as exemplified in the steam engine, electric and wireless telegraphy, the radio and aeroplanes—had, he believed, completed a stage in the Divine Plan. Was not the world knit into material unity for the first time in history? It was this unity which distinguished our modern civilisation from anything which had preceded it. We were still no nearer the solution of our difficulties but that did not alter the fact except to prove that we were not ready or had not yet learned our lesson. It had to bo remembered that tho present crisis was manmade and was not caused through bad harvests, famine or disease. We had all been taught that charity began at home but none of us could maintain that we had been taught that charity ended at home. This doctrine, however, was the cause of half the trouble in the world to-day. What did we see in New Zealand? Wc saw a tragedy. We had an abundance of real wealth, a surplus of food and clothing and shelter and yet we had tho spectacle of 90,000 men out of work, seeking it, but not being able to find it.

Thousands of people were on the vergo of starvation, needing clothes or trembling under the fear of being turned out of their dwellings because they wero not able to pay rent, while worst of all, thousands of children leaving school were being denied the right to earn a livelihood. We were thinking in terms of money and not for humanity. In regard to these unfortunate people out of work, what was their outlook? Surely if they were kept in a sub V tivc economic condition they would soon have little or no faith in religion or constitutional authority since it was not natural that they should be so kept. The tragic part of it all was the people’s outlook in a time of stress, fox undoubtedly it required much greater fortitude and strength to retain cue’s faith in Christianity which doctrine preached, faith, hope and charity. The teaching “of Christianity would become a mockery if its fundamentals became inoperative or impossible of application. No system which engenders hatred or opposition could as a fundamental doctrine be permanent since it obviously could not embody truth. It would therefore be seen that Christian ity and sound economics were indivis. able and we could not preach morality or the virtues of Christianity if wa did not provide the economic means by which men might practise these sentiments in full measure.

It was in this way and this way only that wo might hope to emancipate labour and humanity in general from the oppression of economic systems.

It was obvious that the country today required men of vision. After three years of depression tho Government proposed to adjourn Parliament for twu months to study the position. What an admission of failure, he said. Surely it was now evident to our seemingly blind legislators that th ! c economic system which had created the present difficulties was not iikciy to

be the one that would cause them to be removed.

Much could be said on the question of currency and exchange, but personally the speaker thought it to be a very dangerous and delicate piece of commercial machinery to those who did not understand it. But surely the problem facing our own country could be shorn of all technicalities. If we considered New Zealand as one large family on ono big farm what would the head of the family do if confronted with to-day’s problems? the Mayor asked. Would ho deny them shelter or food or would he say there was plenty of work on the farm? Further, he would say that we had not reached half the carrying capacity of the farm and that he would not be able to pay all tho money—as the produce was not bringing much of a price. He would add that he had a mortgage but that his credit was still good and that he would give promissory notes in pro portion to the wealth produced. The head of tho family would also explain that probably the stores would exchange the promissory notes, but that if not they could be held uutil he was in the position to pay. He would rather help hi 3 children and pay attention to improving the quality of the farm produce. In conclusion, the Mayor urgo.l those about to leave school to make good friendships. “You have the whole world before you and I wish you all the fullest measure of success. Make good friendships for they will never fail you,” he said, adding that ho whs confident all would strive to reflect the greatest credit in life on their school and teachers.