SOCIAL PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 14

SOCIAL PROGRESS

KELBURN BRANCH MEETING

ADDRESS ON MODERN

GERMANY

A meeting of the Kelburn branch of the Women's Social Progress Movement was held in the Kelburn Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance. Mrs. B. L. Dallard, president, was in the chair for the last time this year, as no further meetings of this branch will be held till early in 1938, when activities will be resumed.

The hall, which is large and airy, was decorated' with bowls of Iceland poppies, greenery, and golden broom, while on the stage were African daisies, arum lilies, mottled broom, roses, and maroon-coloured "pin-cushions." The Rev. Alex. Salmond (Karori), guest speaker for the afternoon, gave a concise and interesting account of "modern Germany," discussing in particular the relationship between law and the Nazi state. Dealing with two aspects of the freedom which was characteristic of democratic nations today he said that to his mind the most spectacular loss of liberty occurred when a dictator suddenly arose and enforced his will on the people by the means of the army and police. In countries where freedom was. lost through the people's incapability of free action a more serious loss was sustained. • "Today," said the speaker, "nations, communities, and individuals are faced with the choice of two types of unity under which they will live—changing conditions are forcing them towards a decision —the precise and efficient unity of the army which is based on force, or the unity of a family, which is equally real, but very different. No two children in one family are exactly the same, having perhaps a unity of physique rather than of the mind, so that family unity arises from those differences which become the means of enrichment and the enlargement of life." The first instance cited was favoured by nations under the power of a dictator, but the second example, that of family unity, was the choice of democratic countries. Mr. Salmond regards Germany as a highly significant country. "Through the revelation of God to Martin Luther a movement began to reform the Roman Catholic Church, and for this alone, democratic peoples owe Germany a great;debt," he stated. After the Renaissance Germany had not been lacking in great thinkers, artists, and leaders, and had contributed greatly to the culture of the world. Comparing Germany's geographical position with that of England, Mr. Salmond said that the former's eyes were often turned on Britain, which is so favourably blessed with natural outlets. . In Germany the people had a vastly different idea of the State and Government control than had the English, the speaker said, when discussing laws. There the State was respected and regarded as above the individual, having absolute power. The resultant danger was that when a dictator arose the will of the State became the will of a particular person, and the' will of the State became the will of God. It became something with a real religious significance; found which a cult grew up. When such.'apposition.arose law did not exist, for when two wills were identified there was no appeal, for the basis of law was then entirely different. This had strange outlets. The position of Nazi women, the speaker said, was particularly sad. After the World War there was a lopsided, balance of sexes in Germany, there being a surplus of several millions of women. They were used as hammers to push through Nazi desires, and instead of equality of the sexes it was proclaimed that woman's place was in the home. In conclusion, Mr. Salmond said: "A nation can only get just laws when it acknowledges the law of God—and no nation can afford to ignore that great principle." ■ Mr. Salmond invited questions and an interesting time was spent in discussing his statements.! A vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed by Mrs..Tart. Before afternoon tea was served, two clever young boys, Masters Mervyn Cunningham and John Dexter, sang and recited. Members of the committee present were Mesdames Freeman^Arnold, Tait. Martin, McPhee, Mac Donald, Valentine, Brookman, Robertson, Kirk, Ironside, Redgrave, and A. Radford (secretary). ■ -....-.