“SPIRITUAL FORCE OF IDEALISM”

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24886, 28 May 1946, Page 5

“SPIRITUAL FORCE OF IDEALISM”

APPEAL BY ATTLEE SPEECH TO ASSEMBLY OF CHURCH OF SCOTLAND LONDON, May 26. No international machinery could bring peace unless it had the driving, spiritual force of idealism, said the Prime Minister (Mr Attlee), addressing the Assembly of the Church of Scotland. “No social system will bring happiness, health, and prosperity unless it is inspired by something greater than materialism,” he added. Mr Attlee drew attention to the passing of the idea of the continuous progress of civilisation towards a higher standard of individual conduct and a more just society. The progress of x the human race to-day was very unequal, he said. There was an advance in one part and a retreat in another. There was once a world conscience which was outraged by cruelty, but in the last 30 years so many horrors been experienced that sensibilities had been blunted. The very magnitude of the cruelties of which the world had been told seemed to rob them of their poignancy.

The world needed spiritual leadership. The Government knew the need they had of the churches. Whatever might be the differences between the adherents of the various churches, they were at one in holding before mankind absolute values and setting standards of conduct beyond the self-interest of an individual group or nation.

TOWLINE PUT ABOARD DRIFTING TRAWLER

SHARKS APPEAR ROUND SEAMAN FROM MATAI

(Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 27. As a Maori seaman, J. Waretini, dangled with his knees under water in the swell to fix a towline between the New*Zealand Government steamer Matai and the drifting trawler Pahau. off the New South Wales coast last night, sharks broke surface about him. Members of the Matai’s crew saw the fins and tried to entice the sharks away with bait on a meat hook. With this improvised gear they caught a large shark. When the Matai finally located the trawler the drifting vessel was held in searchlight beams and Waretini was lowered over the side in a bosun’s chair to connect the line. The operation was successful, and the tow to Sydney was resumed.