MR GOSNELL AND THE WAIHI STRIKE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 487, 31 July 1912, Page 7

MR GOSNELL AND THE WAIHI STRIKE.

To the Editor. Sir,—ln the Chronicle of July 17th, Mr Gosnell speaks of "forewcrning and forearming" the people against a lecture on "true labour. 11 ' We might hope that ha will be more able than the professional interviewers in the art of obtaining fair-minded accounts from both the Federation of Labour and from the psrty rebeling against them. Mr Gjsnell's .version will be of worth only as that of an ordinary citizen and hia audience should be "forewarned" that his church must not be blamed or confused in the disputation. Methodism is not quite hostile toward social reform, order, and justice; a prominent member is even working in Parliament in the interests of true labour. There may be many rough unfinished notions and even heresis among the labourites which Mr Gosnell may be so discriminating as to foearm us against. But we should also be forewarned against narrowness and even heresies amongst the churches regarding labour and economic morality, which rouses a confused feeling of antagonism in the workers. The ethics, plans an i principles preached by the labourites are in line with tbosn of Moses, the prophets and apoatlss of the Catholic Church of (from) Jerusalem. From Jong experience in the denominations I know of the timid apathy and the sickly faith, for "faith without works is dead," and so are words if not put into actual living; and spiritism without plan, direction, and morality is chaotic and cruel and heartless. Thus the simple ideas and faiths of "true labourers" are of ten more fruitful and wholesome than the word selling institutions. —I am, etc., M. PARKINSON.