ADDRESS ON RUSSIA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1941, Page 9

ADDRESS ON RUSSIA

At the "last meeting of the Wellington Branch of the Soroptimists' Club the members were addressed by the Hon. W. E. Barnard. His subject was "Russia."

He emphasbed very strongly the great need for a proper understanding of Russia's outlook and historic background, and how essential for New Zealand it was to be friendly towards pur Ally.Russia was taking the full brunt of the German attack at present, thereby saving the lives of New Zealand soldiers and giving England a breathing space to renew her strength. Mr. Barnard reiterated the imperative necessity for New Zealanders to study the Russian experiment anfi the importance of friendly relations. We, as a country in the Pacific, were very concerned with the principal nations in the Pacific: the United States, Japan, China, and Russia. The more friends we had in the Pacific the better for us. Therefore we should not bury our heads in the rsands of ignorance or prejudice but take every opportunity of learning what we could about the U.S.S.R." with an unbiased mind.. . . .

The essence of the Russian philosophy was contained in the historic statement of Communism: "From each according to his power; to each according to his need." Such a statement surely needed no explanation and could be the aim of all men of good will.

If at the end of the struggle we were to create a permanent peace it v/ould only be through having created a permanent friendship with the rapidly-increasing peoples of the U.S.S.R. =.-- ' •■■/..■■-•

.At th£ conclusion of the meeting Mr. Bar'narcFwas ~ thanked very sincerely for his address.