COLOUR PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1926, Page 4

COLOUR PROBLEM.

RAISED by minister

AFCKBAND, March 10. “ |f .Jesus Christ were horn again in the self-same wav, Ho would be debarred from Australia, and if He came t„ Xew Zealand wo should have to take up a retiring collection to pay His poll tax.” The Rev Stanley Morrison of -Mount Eden, made this arresting assertion last evening in the Beresford Street Congregational Church during the course of a dissertation on the clash of colour. He had followed the Rev J. Dowling. M.A., president of the Congregational Union of Australia- and Xew Zealand, who had dealt with the colour question from the Christian

point of view. The Christian Church had come hy a sad misfortune if it had not a message definite and clear with regard to the colour problem, he said. The coloured races had raised the question. Is the white civilisation really the higher civilisation? and their answer was “ Xo.” It was not possible to repress any considerable portion of the human race, he added. AVhv did Australia close the door on coloured pqoplo? Did any Australian honestly believe that it was done because of economic causes? In any ease, it was easy for the coloured races to look upon Australia’s attitude as an insult. White people had a notion that they were superior, that they were horn to rule, and that it was for the coloured races to obey, but he doubted whether the racial differences were as great as was generally thought. In the end it was a test of intellect. Was there any race on earth that could not make the sublime answer that Christ Jesus was a coloured man? Mr Dowling said he believed that Christ was able to give all of Himself to the coloured man. The answer to the colour problem was a more perfect understanding. The world would have to look to Christ if things were to he put right. “ The simplest tiling to do,” he said, “ is to do our job by the coloured races in the name of Jesus.”