CHURCH AND LABOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3776, 19 October 1907, Page 4

CHURCH AND LABOUR.

Auckland, October 17

A mass meeting for men only was held to-night in the Choral Hall in connection with the Anglican Synod. The Mayor (Mr A. Myers), who presided, dwelt on the relation between the church and labour. Hedid not think anyone n it blind to the signs of the times 1.111 the social unrest prevailing could fail to see that political power llnongh out the civilised world was passingmore and more into the hands ol the masses, and they were showing a growing inclination to use that power to remedy what, to them at all events, seemed to be the injustice of the present distribution of the wealth which their labour playe I so large a part in producing. Bishop Neligan enumerated the indictments against Christianity. He dealt with the three soda sores of drink, gambling and :m-l purity. Under these heads, an 1, .useing very plain terms, he delivered a stirring and somewhat sensational address. He con trasted the expenditure on drink with the amounts contributed to churches and charities, the enormous sums passing through the totalisator, the increasing number of women in maternity homes, and the question of race suicide. Mr Ben Tillett said the Socialists had never said anything so damning against the rich as at St. James. He attacked the church for want of sympathy with the masses. He clajmed that environment largely influenced the workers, and by the removal of bad environment they would do much to promote the welfare of the people. The Rev. G. W. Smailes said he had started with the dreams of Socialists, and had obtained a seat in one of the Australian States. He believed it was impossible to achieve the ends aimed at by Socialists by means of legislative methods.