METHODIST SYNOD

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1933, Page 6

METHODIST SYNOD

HEY. PATOHETT’S COMMENT

DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT,

(Per Press Association, Copyright)

AUCKLAND, November 22,

“The influence of Christian people should be strongly against a spirit of intolerance, bitterness and censoriorusness,” said -the Rev. E. -S. Patchett, in an address at the opening of Auckland Methodist Sydnod. “No one in close touch with the undercurrents of public life to-day can fail to note the extravagant and bitter criticism that everywhere is being bandied from dp to Dp. In many instances the motives of men are inpughed, 'without any justification. These are ways in’which good, citizens are unintentionally lending themselves to the .forces undermining the social structure.” Much had been made of the failure of the Government adequately to provide for unemployed, yet in this period of emergency, the Government had carried through a most far-reaclung and beneficial scheme of relief work. The method, carrying it out might be open to criticism, but surely the motive was beyond question. The Governent did not take the easy way of inflation and borrowing, but the difficult, unpopular way of special taxation. It was ■ easy to declaim against the inadequacy of relief pay, and the churches themselves, used their influence' to"- have it increased, "but there was another side to the question. The people who suffered in silence must far outnumber those suffering from . unemployment, ..and their need of reb?f from taxation' was in many cases as urgent as the need foi highei relief pay. ;