CHURCH AND LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 909, 31 August 1910, Page 6

CHURCH AND LABOUR.

. A , CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT. ;.' . • Representatives of the.- Wellington ' Trades Council .and. of' the Wellington Presbytery met recently in informal conferenco to discuss matters affecting the Church and labour generally. The con- . ference lasted , for several hours and ended in expressions of satisfaction at the good feeling which had' permeated tho discussions and at' the. results .likely to accrue! from this, and future conferences. No permanent committee was. sot up, nor was any. definite relationship agreed on., tndewl it was recognised hy both parties' : ■ that no binding agreement could bo conveniently entered into. The Church representatives adopted- tho position that ' politics could not bo allowed to' DJitw the pulpit. They-had to deal with mixed ; congregations and it was their first duty • to administer to the spiritual- needs of the community. At tho same time it was clearly' demonstrated by speakers ~; from the-PresbyteryHliat at all times it , recognised the help that might be given bjf the Church as' a body in connection with many social reforms. On. the other hand the Labour people, while concurring in the statement that politics should , bo excluded from the pulpit, held' that,: in respect to many reforms which they "■ advocated, the Church might be'expected to co-operate. The Labour party wail engaged in an agitation for Saobath ob- ; servance and a s weekly day of rest. -It", advocated making due provision for'wid- ! ows and orphans and had been active in httempting to uvercomu drinking, garntk:--ling and other social evils. These■ lyere - "'' works which at least demanded the sup-; port of the -Church. The Labour speak-'" era pointed out that here in New Zealand as well as in other countries their " party had tried to keep out anything like sectarianism. At' tlic same time it was quite unfair'to charge the Labour : party .with being irreligious. In thetrades' union movement; officials had to'-'' be unright, moral, and straightforward. - Otherwise' they were quickly discarded. ; Many Labour leaders in Australasia were leading lights in the churches and-in-the temperance movement. Future Church and Labour conferences > are to be arranged which will occupy themseves with tho consideration of.' special reforms. Probably the question ot Sabbath observance! and the 'institution of a legislative six-day. week in New Zealand will be the subject dealt with at the next conference •