SOME NATIONAL PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2816, 6 July 1916, Page 4

SOME NATIONAL PROBLEMS

Some of the social, moral, and roligious aspects of tho great war were dealt with by the Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Spkott) in the presidential address which ho delivered on Tuesday afternoon . in opening his Diocesan Synod. Tho war touches human life at almost every vital point. It has introduced a disturbing element into all our thinking. It is making us see old problems in a new light. It is even compelling leaders of thought to yc-examino the foundations of traditional morality and the fundamental principles of religion. Some timid people are of opinion that the clergy should have nothing 'to say about the war; that thoy should deal with, safer subjects. But it is quito plain that the Bishop of Wellington is not prepared to shut his eyes to the most momentous crisis in "history. Ever since the beginning of the war he has been doing what ne can to help his people to form rational judgments regarding its spiritual aspocts., He is not a lover of war. He has more faith than most people in the possibilities of international arbitration. Yet peace before victory has no attractions for him. Ho realises that an inconclusive peace would bo followed by instantaneous preparation on a vast scale for a renewal'of the struggle. "All our sacrifices would have been fruitless and our children would be compelled to do the dreadful work over again." The truth of this should be obvious to everyone who knows anything about the aims and aspira'tions of the German militarists, but it is well that it should be [emphasised again and again. Dr: Spiiott reminds us that if tho war has fixod attention on some of the best traits in our national character, it has .also made us realiso more strongly than over beforo tho urgency of finding a remedy for those social and industrial evils which have during recent years been a source of serious anxiety to thoughtful people. Ho does not, of course, attempt to solve the problem arising out of the cleavage octwecn labour and capital. Ho refers to it oecauso it will have to be faced after the war, and ho thinks it is the imperative duty of Christian men and women to give their best thought to it and to find a solution in accordance with Christian principles. The changes in economic policy for which preparations aro already being made must be accompanicd by important readjustments in our industrial life, and may point the way to the establishment of more friendly relations octaveon labour and capital. At present we can only hope that a way may be found to put an end to the class war. The applause which greeted tho Bishop's declaration in favour of State control liquor traffic showed that a considerable section of tho Synod approved of this solution of a much-'debated problem. The Bishop rested his case mainly upon the success which has attended the restrictions which have been placed upon the sale of liquor "in Britain during the war. But these are extraordinary measures specially designed to meet an abnormal 'emergency. Tho facts cited by the Bishop arc one-sided, and altogether too scanty to provicJb adoquate_ support for tho very farreaching conclusion which he bases on them. Many competent judges arp of opinion that this remedy would prove worse than tho disease. Dr. SrROTT is much more ifoubtfnl as regards State action in connection with what is known as the social evil. Ho admits the gravity of the position and tho danger of a policy of drift. As regards the revival of certain Acts which have been in abeyance for many years, he earnestly urges the Government, before accepting this solution, to investigate thoroughly the reasons which led the English Royal Commission to report against the revival of those Acts. This is a very reasonable suggestion. The community has a right to expect that the Govenißieut will givo the fullest consideration to tho opinions expressed

)jy tho Commission referred to, and all other available information of a relevant character, when tho time coracs for grappling with a problem of such extraordinary difficulty. State action may do something to chcck this deadly evil, but most people will agree with the Bishop's view that for any radical treatment, we must turn to education in tho school and in the home—especially in "tho homo.