WORLD DEMOCRACY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 13

WORLD DEMOCRACY

MUST BE MAINTAINED

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

The great need for maintaining world democracy was stressed by the Rt. Rev.- H. St. B. Holland, Bishop of Wellington, when speaking at a lunchoon given in his and Mrs. Holland's honour by the English-speaking Union today. ■ Whatever was happening elsewhere, he said, New Zealand was maintaining the great spirit of democracy, which was going to develop national life without revolution. The Prime Minister and his colleagues were aware that the world was passing through a critical period; critical so far as the survival or otherwise of democracy was concerned. It was the bounden duty of every citizen in the British Empire, in. his political activity and in his range and direction of political thought, to try to stand aloof from Fascism, Communism, etc., which were endeavouring to strangle the world and break the ideals of life. He thought that if there Was to be any future for democracy it would be due to the stability and ideals of the peoples and countries which made up the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Organisations such as the Englishspeaking Union, said Bishop Holland, ■were playing a large part in attaining the spirit of democracy. The work of bringing nations together was invaluable, and in this respect a tribute was due to the union.

Bishop Holland said . that he and Mrs. Holland had been in the country over;two months, and he was satisfied that New Zealand was going to prove an extraordinarily happy home for them. New Zealand was almost unique in the closeness of its relationship to the country which was furthest away from it. He had been particularly careful to notice whether, as he had been told, New Zealapders born in the country. referred to England as "Home," and he was gratified to find that of those who spoke of England as Home 50 per cent, were New Zealandborn. ' .

About 40 members of the union attended the reception to Bishop and Mrs. Holland. The - Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., president of the union, presided, and also at the official table were Bishop Sprott and Mr. Leigh Hunt, chairman of the executive. Among the guests were the Rev. S. Katz and Mrs. Katz, the Rev. L. J. Boulton Smith and Mrs. Smith, and the Rev. Father Walshe.

Mr. Perry extended a warm welcome to the guests, and, said the union was honoured by their presence.

■ Supporting Mr. Perry, Mr. Hunt referred to the religious interests represented, and he said that withput Christianity the'ideals expressed by Bishop Holland could not be wholly, attained.