LESSONS FROM THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 May 1919, Page 7

LESSONS FROM THE WAR.

THE NEED FOR SELF-SACRIFICE

An address on "Lessons from the War" wa s delivered at the Uniterian Church by Sir Robert Stout, recently. The speaker referred to the glorious passages of the war and the terrible destruction whicii had been wrought. Then he told the story of Elijalrs ascent into Mount Heroh, and how after the wind and earthquake and the fire there came the "still small voice," telling Elijah that his life-work had not been a failure. We had witnessed the terrible destruction by storm, fire and earthquake, and would we now hear and regard the "voice? telling us our duty and our mission? The problems, of New Zealand were, in character, the same as those of Elijah's times. We had the same struggle for truth and righteousness before us The burden rested on each individual, and none could be neutral or delegate their duty The first equipment of the prophet or social reformer was surely as the war had taught; self-sacrifice, living for others The wealth destroyed in the

war could only be renewed by the selfsacrifice of the citizens in working hard and saving. £> Ur was t° during the war had been unpardonable. Reasonable pleasure was necessary, but it was not necessary to go outside the homes for it.' In reference to life problem of alcohol. Sir Robert Stout said: "In all the discussions during the recent referendum, it did not seem to me that the principle of self-sucrifico was considered. Why should those who can drink alcohol and not injure themselves —if any such there be —not agree for the sake of the weaker citizens whom the drug is destroying, to forego the pleasure they get from its use?" Labour disputes shoul'd be settled by both sides agreeing to leave the decision to an industrial tribunal. The needs of labour must be recognised. These needs had been summarised as (1) A living wage; (2) healthy working conditions, prevention of over-fatigue, and care of the lives and health of the workers"; (3) continuous employment; (4) encouraging and maintaining the self-respect of the workmen; (5) encouraging loyalty to industrial needs; (6) collective bargaining should be fully recognised; (7) a happy home-fife for the worker should be the aim of the employers; (8) true idealism of life should be encouraged so that work could be looked Upon as social service; (9) the mental development of the worker should be attended to by adult education by proper amusements, and by encouraging an interest in social life. f Education was at present receiving great attention. Surely we could train and teach our children without the aid of denominational schools, which did not make for either civic peace or brotherhood. The dominance of truth must be reduced if the race were to must be promoted and inefficiency

must be reduced if the ract were to endure. In conclusion Sir Robert Stout quoted the report of a recent English Commission emphasising the need for' action, following the enlarged vision of social duty gained during the war.