CHURCH AND INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 69, 13 June 1927, Page 12

CHURCH AND INDUSTRY

N.Z. POINTS THE WAY ECONOMIC PRESSURE IN ENGLAND INTEREST IN VALDER SCHEME “The words ‘New Zealand* seemed to be an open sesame both in England and the United States of America," said the Rev. F. Harty, Vicar of Frankton Junction, who returned from England by the Remuera yesterday. “There was nothing said of the word ‘Australasia.’ " jVTR. HARTY, accompanied by Mr. H. -*-*-*- Valder, has been on a tour of England, lecturing on the Companies Empowering Act, New Zealand, of 1924. Honolulu was first visited, where the two representatives attended the PanPacific Conference. Then on to Denver, Colorado, where they attended the International Convention of Rotary. “Great interest was shown wherever we went in England in New Zealand’s progressive legislation in leading the way to a new order in industry,” said Mr. Harty. “I gave numerous lectures in London and also in the Midlands and in the South of England. “The principles underlying the New Zealand Industrial Organisation are based on the recognition of the human element in industry, and these principles received the full endorsements of many of the best known people in England to-day.” Viscount Cecil, who represented Great Britain at the Economic Conference of the League of Nations, was greatly interested in the lectures. Mr. Harty had a personal interview with him and before he left England Viscount Cecil wrote: “I believe the Valder scheme has excited great interest in this country and that something on these lines is probably the best hope we have for dealing with the industrial problem.” The Bishop of Manchester, one of the most outstanding figures in England to-day, after presiding at a meeting in Manchester, where Mr. Harty delivered a lecture, wrote:

“I am profoundly interested in the industrial experiment which Mr. Valder is putting into operation and which you have expounded over here. I am sure the principles which have prompted it are absolutely sound and I expect that this particular method of employing them has a great future before it and will be a very substantial contribution toward the solution of the greatest of our contemporary problems.”

The scheme was taken up by the Cambridge Branch of the Industrial Christian Fellowship and many other important public organisations, as well as the leading newspapers of England.

Last January, at the big debate at Church House, Westminster, Mr. Harty was asked to take the platform. The Bishop of Lichfield was in the chair, with the Bishop of Gore in support. Mr. Walter Citrene, secretary of the Trades Union Council, Mr. A. Pugh chairman of the T.U.C., and Mr. Sydney Pascall, of the firm of Pascall’s sweets, were also present. The debate took two days, before a large audience. Many famous people were interested in the scheme, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Right Hon. Philip Snowden and Mr. Wickham Steed, editor of the “Review of Reviews.” In official circles notice was also taken of the scheme. Mr. E. R. Edison, Comptroller of the Companies Department of the Board of Trade, asked for an interview. Mr. Harty explained the scheme to him and he expressed surprise at such progressive legislation as the Companies Empowering Act. 1924.

Just before Mr. Harty left England he lunched with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who asked: “Who is going to carry on this work in England now that you have gone, after such excellent progress has been made? It is a pity it could not be pushed until it is taken up by Parliament."