“Taranaki Central Press” WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1937. BIBLE CLASS ANTI-MILITARISM.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 332, 13 January 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1937. BIBLE CLASS ANTI-MILITARISM.

The Bible Class movement of the different churches of the Dominion is undoubtedly a fine one, and the annual conferences which are held certainly do much to weld the individual units of the various organisations into a force of some effect. It is unfortunate, however, -that these conferences should often be used by leaders to propound doctrines of an anti-nationalistic nature.

The present Methodist Conference in Wellington is no exception to that rule, as is seen in the resolution published to-day, which says: “Believing that under any circumstances war is utterly opposed to the spirit and teachings of Jesus Christ . . . we urge all Christian men and women, and particularly our own Bible Class members, to take a definite stand against all forms of militarism.

Though that resolution may follow the literal teaching of the Scriptures, at no time has a more dangerous thought been put into the minds of the youth of this country. The question of the ethics of war is beside the point. War rnay yet be necessary to sustain the very teachings which the Wellingtosr conference desires to support. Any support for active opposition to the defence of this or any other Christian nation is contrary to the whole spirit of Christianity and is belied by the historical teachings of the Scriptures.

Fortunately the canker of anti-nationalism is, in this case, not as dangerous as it may seem. The resolution quoted is but the concoction of the half-baked opinions of a section of the youth of the Church who are hardly emerging from the swaddling clothes of childish foolishness to the equally foolish state of adolescence. Il does, though, place a responsibility on the senior members of their Church. Such opposition to what might well become a necessary reality should be quietly stamped out by those adults who see the way the world is heading and how New Zealand and the other parts of the British Empire are bulwarks not only of international peace but also of the very international faith which these youngsters in Wellington profess to believe.

In criticising the resolution we do not support war or any form of militarism. Those who, unlike present-day Bible-class members, lived through the years of the Great War, need no assistance from any conference to bring home to them the horror of it all. Our aim is, however, to oppose as actively as we can any insidious propaganda which would militate against the strength of our nation in upholding the Christian principle which our nation stands for. Those who cannot see beyond the literal meaning of the Scriptures should hesitate toforce their views on a more resp onsible and more matured sectionof the community.

Wool Shortage and Prices

Up till the opening of the wool sale in Wellington on Monday, there was room for speculation on the effect of the trade agreement between Australia and Japan upon the local market. The agreement provided for the entry of over half a million bales into Japan, and there was a possibility that the demand from the island empire would slacken. Japan, however, bought as heavily as ever, French buyers sought keenly for pieces and lower grades wool, the Yorkshire demand was strong, Continental buyers competed keenly, and America was well represented. Jhe result was that, instead of a drop, the market was a good penny a pound firmer than it was in December last. <

The course of the sales this year has been of particular interest. There seems more solidity behind the rise, sudden though it has been, than lay behind the spectacular rise and fall of the market three years ago, and it seems likely that the New Zealand series will close with the prices still firm. In that event the total wool cheque will be on a par with that of the boom years, and the outlook for the 1937-38 season will be reassuring.

The present prices are due to a world shortage; the buyers know to a few bales the amount available, and they have found that the total is not up to requirements, hence the keen demand.