PRESTIGE HIGH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 230, 28 September 1936, Page 8

PRESTIGE HIGH.

BRITAIN ADMIRED. —— 1 WORK FOR CIVILISATION. ! AUSTRALIAN PREMIER'S VIEW Great Britain's contribution to world progress and the enhancement of her prestige which has resulted, were stressed by the Hori. B. S. Stevens, Premier and Treasurer of New South Wales, in a brief address at the Overseas League this morning. Mr. J. E. Mitchell presided. Mr. Stevens said that since leaving New York seven weeks ago, he had met, almost exclusively, British people, who, though showing minor differences in speech and customs, still worshipped at the same shrine. He said that one of the most impressive incidents of liis return voyage was the spontaneous singing, by a native choir at Fiji, of the British National Anthem. The natives of Fiji were, he said, typical of the many races which, taught and led by British missionaries and administrators, were absorbing British ideals, to the betterment of the world's progress in civilisation. That work had always inspired liim with great respect for Britain. This respect for Britain was, he said, the keynote of the education of the school children almost everywhere in Europe. Even in countries where one might expect to find a certain amount of hostility and jeolousy against Britain, there was actually a profound respect for Britain's contribution to civilisation. The future of democracy in Europe, he remarked, was uncertain. Profound changes had been entrusted to dictators to carry out. In few European countries did the Press dare to criticise statesmen. Freedom of criticism and expression were among the foundations of British democracy, and he hoped that it would always be so. Thus would Great Britain and the Dominions be able to work out their own destinies under the democratic rule that' was their heritage.