CHURCH AND LABOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3188, 13 May 1909, Page 5

CHURCH AND LABOUR.

ADDRESS BY MR FISHER, NEED OF SOCIAL REFORMS. Received May 12, 10.10 a.m. SYDNEY, May 12. The Federal Premier, Mr Fisher, j\t the invitation of the Presbyterian General Assembly, addressed a large gathering on the subject of "The Church and Labour." The Rev. Mr Waugh, in opening the discussion, said organised Labour was looking at the Church with curious, sceptical eyes, wondering what the Church was going to do. That there was need of something being done was undeniable. A large number of persons were not getting a living wage.' Air Fisher declared that the question was not political, but social, touching the very roots of civilisation. Instead of being in the lead in dealing with the matter, the Church had dragged behind, and proved unequal to its first social duty. What estanged people from the Church was the fact that they could make more progress by association with a movement which was not of the Church, but which contained for women and men something making for &§ welfare of their felloWfli

During tflo last sixteen years, continued Mr Fisher, Australia had doubled its wealth, but the increase hadnot gone to the struggling people who* were its backbone. If the Church allowed these things it would not progress, but be left behind by the social movement and be ignored. "We are, in a way, civilised," said the speaker, "but we are not really Christians or civilised when we allow honest men to starve,'!, Continuing, the Premier said it would fed impertinent to Bay there what the remedy was, but he claimed the Church's sympathy for those in danger not only of the pangs of hunger, but of moral danger also. The Church had failed miserably reg-wwUng the housing of the poor and '-their working conditions. Vested interests were standing against the lives of our women and children. There were rings and combines on every hand. Some peopleHigh Church—said that these things operate for the good of the public. They thought nothing of cornering foodstuffs. It was a degradation to the country, a disgrace to Parliament and a reflection upon every Church that failed to condemn such practices. These were the honest convictions of his heart. He hoped the | ahurch would deal with the question speedily, even if it had to call a special session of the Assembly