SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1940, Page 9

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

«■ ADMISSION OF REFUGEES. METHODIST CONFERENCE VIEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN. February 29. The president, the Rev. L. B. Neale, was in the chair at today’s business sessions of the Methodist conference. The report of the women's missionary union presented by the president, Miss E. M. Rishworth, stated that there had been a substantial increase in membership, the total number being 3838. an increase for the year of 468. •The following resolution concerning the admission of refugees to New Zealand was adopted: "That the conference, recognising the obvious difficulties confronting the Government in formulating any policy in regard to the immigration of refugees at such a time cf national crisis, urges upon il the necessity of carefully considering the claims of bona fide refugees who seek to gain admission into New Zealand as permanent citizens. Believing that the entry of duly approved refugees can only react favourably upon the economic and cultural life of the Dominion, we recommend to the Government that a wise and humane policy concerning refugees, particularly children, be implemented and given effect to, if not immediately, then as soon as practicable.” The conference adopted without discussion the following resolution on gambling: "This conference views with grave concern the widespread increase and encouragement among young and old of all forms of gambling. Believing it to be essentially unethical, antisocial and uneconomic, it calls upon Christian people to (a) discourage all attempts to maintain and extend facilities for gambling of whatever kind: (b) to refrain from participation in betting, art unions, lotteries, sweeps, rallies" and the like; <c> to demonstrate by precept and personal example those ideals of Christian stewardship revealed to us in the New Testament."

The conference adopted a motion by the Rev. H. T. Peat to set up a chaplaincy fund of £lOOO and authorised an appeal for the April-June quarter. The following were appointed as representatives to the chaplains' advisory board: Auckland, the Rev. W. Walker: Wellington, the Rev. F. J. Parker: Christchurch, the Rev. Wesley Parket: Dunedin, the Rev. L. B. Neale. The conference adopted (he following resolution: "That while deprecating the establishment of wet canteens iii military camps, we are opposed to any discrimination against men on military service. The Government is therefore urged to adopt as a measure of wartime national policy the total prohibition of the sale of intoxicants except for medicinal purposes and alcohol for industrial purposes. On economic grounds alone the importation and unrestricted use of spirits is not justified when essential goods are urgently required.”