THE CHURCH AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 138, 6 March 1920, Page 7

THE CHURCH AND LABOUR

RELATIONS DISCUSSED BYMETHODISTS. ' By Telesranli—Press ARRociainn Auckland. March 5. The attitude of the Church to presentday Labour problems was considered by the Methodist Conference to-day. Mr. 0. Johnson moved: "That in order to de-monstrate-its-.practical, sympathy with the efforts- beini made for improving social and industrial conditions, the conference be requested • to set aside one Sunday throughout the whole connexion as a dav on which- special reference may : bo made ,by the various preachers to' the urprent necessity of the application qf Christian princinles in industrial affairs.,. The mover said that now was the time for the Church to show its sympathy with the people in the fight against pro fit".»ring and other social evils. The motion *was passed unanimously, and • the Sunday prior to Labour Day W n s set n= : de for the, purnose pientioned. The following motion nl s o was.carried' "Rein? convinced that the. present in. dustrial unrest is lnrgely the outcome of long-continued.' unjust, and oppressive economic conditions, wb'-eh are contrary to the principles of Christianity, and have borne most hardly on the workers, the conference earnestly recommends to members of our churches systematic and sympathetic s.tudy of present conditions of life in order to come to some just "ml effective solution of the problem in a better understanding between emplover and employed, end closer co-operation fir their mutual benefit and contentment. To that end. the conference further recommends that at least once ouarterly in ell churches ail address shall lie delivered on a pressing industrial question: that circuits be urged to discuss various industrial problems nt their evening meetings; and that whenever opportunity arises quarterly meetings and synodsshould demonstrate their practical svmpitliv with Labour by snnnorting inst claims for inuiroved conditions. The conference is of opinion that the of industrial mire-l" enn be found only a= the nrincinlcs of Christianity n r e uncompromisingly applied to commercial, 60cial, and iiidiv : dnal relationships."