FAITH IN LEAGUE NOT YET LOST

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 174, 20 April 1937, Page 10

FAITH IN LEAGUE NOT YET LOST

New Zealander’s Opinion CONTINENTAL VIEWS OF BRITAIN Dominion Special Service. Auckland, April 19. "People have not yet lost faith iu the efficiency of the League of Nations, but until the nations regard themselves as bound by justice aud true charity iu their dealings there can be nu true peace,” said the Rev. Dr. L. T. Buxton, administrator of St. Patrick s Cathedral, who returned to Auckland by the Aorangi from Sydney after au extended visit to Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria and other European countries. “British rearmament is for the moment regarded as the best pledge of peace, but we must nevertheless try and appreciate tbe viewpoint of tbe Continental,” he added. “He views Britain as a very successful retired burglar who has made a declaration of reform aud has called upon his fellow professionals to reform with him on the basis that each keeps what be holds. Until we are able to convince tbe world that we really have the common interest at heart our lead in the League of Nations will be suspect,” said Dr. Buxton. “New’ Zealand’s support of the principle of the League of Nations will be very valuable during the time of reorganisation.” Dr. Buxton said that the eyes of the world were centred on New Zealand and many people were hoping that the solution of many social problems would be found in the efforts that were being made bj’ the Government of the day. As far as he could see the basic solution of the social problem was a more equitable distribution of the wealth that was produced, and if New Zealand was able to bring about this better distribution without resort to class war she would give a most valuable lead to world reorganisation. “People living out in this part of the work) should be very grateful during these days of strain aud stress iu Europe,” remarked Dr, Buxton. “Representatives of no fewer than 15 nations travelled in the Orford to Australia with me and they included a number of families that had been driven from Germany and bad made a new home in Spain, only to see tbe revolution send them forth once more in search of peace.” Dr. Buxton said he was pleased to note that tbe Italian Government had changed its policy in regard to support of religion, which was now taught in the schools of the State. Religion had to be taught for half an hour each day and priests had the right of entry to schools for two hours a week. Great hopes were held for this change from the secularisation of the past century. “In Germany one does not find tbe same confidence as in Italy and suppression of opinion seems much more complete,” said Dr. Buxton. “Religious persecution is most intense and some of tbe leading church authorities think that, of 23,000.000 Roman Catholics, perhaps only the staunchest, to the number of 10,000,000, will survive the ordeal. However, these would represent the very best type of Christian, and, in better times, would speedily reestablish their numbers.” On two occasions Dr. Buxton made application to enter Russia, once in Italy and again in Hungary, but on both occasions he was refused a visa, the excuse being that the Soviet had recently issued a decree forbidding the crossing of tbe frontier by priests of all denominations. Dr. Buxton also visited Hungary, Belgium and Yugoslavia, where he was hospitabily received and went to some of the villages from which the Yugoslav people in New Zealand came. In June and July of last year Dr. Buxton stayed in Ireland, where ho experienced the wettest period for 100 years. He had an interesting interview with Mr. de Valera, whom he was surprised to note had a very detailed knowledge of New Zealand’s economic problems and her efforts to solve them. Dr. Buxton spent most of his time in England at the Catholic Workers’ College in Oxford, where he lived with young working men who were being trained to take their place in tbe Labour movement of the country. He also participated in a lecturing tour through the industrial areas of Scotland, where be was able to see the ravages of unemployment.