The Scheme of Things

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1932, Page 9

The Scheme of Things

By M.H.C,

It. is to.be hopecl that many women will take the trouble to read the speeches made by Mr. Bruce, the leader for Australia at the Ottawa Conference. It might seem to soirio who do -■ not attend women's meetings or hear their speeches that it is far-fotcjied to say, that he has voiced some of the opinions of women formed and spoken for a good many years past. Outstanding ' in this connection is the following:—l "I believe we can tako action for tho < restoration of prices and world stability. [To-day's position is that there are millions unemployed, and living standards are declining. It is a challenge to civilisation and an indictment of statesmanship." "What women havo thought for some years, as the world' was more and mare plainly drifting into difficulties of a very bad kind, was that a great leader in the form of a world statesman was needed. 'Thcro has been , such a terrible amount 'of "wait and see," according to Lord Oxford 'and Asqiiith's famous sentiment, werybody "sitting back" and waiting for someone else to come fqrward' with courage and tackle the undoubtedly great and difficult subject of .national finance on lines that are at 1 least hopeful of a solution. The waiting ,has gone on and on. Now comes this meeting of the representatives o£ the countries, and it will interest a great many women immensely to find how much real good. comes from the 1 , Conference, and how much is lost through timidity in touching,"affairs" which may cause loss in high ' and "hefty" directions. Hoping and presuming that both courage and gene- ■ r,osify are shown, it should be the beginning of the lightening of the .world's burdens,

Mr. Bruce went on to pay a tributo *to the work accomplished at' Lausanne, and that again will interest women, who looked at the results from the great meeting with friendly oyes, hoping a great deal of-good would accrue, but' finding again a certain want of, courage and determination in dealing with some of the subjects discussed. Mr. Bruce hoped that Lausanne would be.the.forerunner, of an international conference which would give renewed hope to a depressed and almost desperate 'world. "Therp is no reason," he said, "why ■wo cannot witMn our group of nations «store world trade, -thus gaining the 'adherence of many other countries •whose monetary policies are closely linked :to ours." Presuming that no ■ speech' or assertion is made without great consideration, tois is an interest- ■ ing declaration, and one that will give some.hope.and confidence. The other point of view is also one that needs the consideration and interest of intelligent" people. Writing in "Time and ■ Tide, J'1 Aldous Huxleyi says, quoting from a financial paper: "Speculative bears have seized the opportunity and have assisted in increasing the general depreciation. 5' Alas! this is no news. They have been assisting for months past—with gusto and very effectively. "That tho rulers of highly-organised ' societies should permit the stability of th© mechanism on which the economic

prosperity of the community depends to bo compromised by a small group of wealthy gamblers is surely one of the oddest facts in this very odd world of ours. Itseems'all the odder when we icmembcr the rules and (regulations against every other form of gambling. Lotteries are illegal; newspapers' are prosecuted for giving prizes to the holders of certain season tickets, chosen at random; street-betting is prohibited; baccarat rooms are raided by the police. But speculating in the way mentioned —gambling with tho prosperity of the community at large, with the livelihood of workers in every country of the globe-^this is permitted and even sanctified with tho respectable name of 'business.'.". Mr. liuxley evidently thinks that the "game gamble" is far preforable to the other kind, and it is probable that most .woman would agree with him, There are so many matters of this kind thatjoem to the mind of woman," if not' quite . wrong, at least undesirable,.while others very certainly need better r.egulating. If there was no damaging action which would reflect in "large" ways allowed, just as such-is not allowed in small'ways," the world at largo would, bo safe?" and happier. At least,th,at is tho conclusion come to by women who think.

.Another matter, of recent interest-is the cable messago regarding the visit of Prince George to Covent Garden Market. It fallows' on a 'number of other reports of visits paid by the Royal' Family to the industries and quarters of really poor people. The Queen, the Prince of "Wales, and the Princess Boyal have all been, visitors to small homes, to slums, and to many gathering-places of the poor, the unfortunate, and the .'erring. This is on,e of the wonderful examples given by Koyalty that many women would fain see followed by all those who have authority. Thero are so many who .are never seen in -such places, who never take a personal view of places, and scenes which might alter, moderate, or widen their range of vision in directing the lives of the people, Tho direct representatives of Royalty do their part in this way, and gain love and respect in-the doing;,but there is no large fol-lowing-on in this section of the world's great work, and often it seems to those in humbler positions, who do see and know the conditions of the lives of the majority of people, that a'little more knowledge would make laws and conditions a, great deal moro useful and at times less oppressive. Another point of. view is that such visits ar,e very cheeringUo workers. They feel that their'efforts, are appreciated, and, perhaps, that their conditions have > a chance of improvement .where necessary. In Teading accounts of a number of places .which are the subject of adverse criticism, iit would seem to be the common-sense action for those in high places who can bo reasonably' deemed responsible personally to make inspection, and that without too much notice.. The fact that the visits of Royalty to factories, mines, slums, and shops aje specially noted is a particularly interesting one, and there-is little doubt that, spiritually and practically, tho good done is incalculable. •