MR STANLEY BRUCE

Evening Star, Issue 23113, 12 November 1938, Page 13

MR STANLEY BRUCE

HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP EXTENDED AN APPRECIATION Mr Stanley Bruce’s reappointment as Australian High Commissioner in London for a liirtlier period of live years lias now been officially gazetted m Canberra. During the six years in widen lie has represented the Commonwealth in this country, first as Minister and then as Higli Commissioner, ho lias rendered suen notable services that his reappointment was almost a matter of course, says ‘The Times’ editorially. It was in fact decided some months ago. The authority winch lie enjoyed as a former Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs has been steadily increased by his achievements and by his personal qualities, which have made bini an outstanding figure in the public Jitu of tiro British community of nations as well as a sturdy and effective representative of Australian interests. His special task when he came to London in 1932 as a member of Mr Lyons’s first Cabinet was to negotiate the conversion of Australian loans which were due for renewal, a mission for which he was particularly fitted both by his experience as Treasurer before he became Prime Minister and as the creator of the Australian Loan Council, which proved a bulwark of Australian credit during the depression. It was carried through with complete success and saved the Commonwealth over £3,000.000 a year in interest, at a time when she was struggling gallantly to recover her financial equilibrium. There was no ■ ■ surprise, therefore, when, on tho reconstruction of the Government in view of a General Election, he was asked to remain in London as High Commissioner. IMPORTANT PARTS,

The part he played in the Ottawa Conference, in the World Economic Conference, in the Geneva meetings of the League of Nations, and on other occasions equally important, though less have been heard of them, has won for him a place of high standas a citizen of the Empire and ot the world, though he has never let it be forgotten that he is first and foremost an Australian primarily concerned to further Australian interests. Australian prosperity, however, depends upon the prosperity of the_ countries which are actual or potential buyers of the goods she produces, so that the Commonwealtli has a direct and immediate interest in promoting world recovery. The official confirmation of Mr Bruce’s reappointment comes at an opportune time, on the ovo of the session ot 1 lie League of Nations Assembly at which a programme of economic reconstruction based on the principles which he has advocated over since the failure of the World Conference is expected to begin to take practical shape. At the conference be warned his fellow delegates that the world would drift to disaster if, at a time when millions of people were suffering privation, they could produce no hotter remedy for the depression than schemes to restrict production. Since then, on every available occasion, he has. insisted upon the necessity of international co-operation in a campaign to raise standards of living among the classes and nations which are under-nourished and underclothed and inadequately housed, INQUIRY INTO NUTRITION.

It was on his initiative that the Mixed Committee on Nutrition was appointed, the report of which lias been recognised as a challenge to the consciences of Governments and an opportunity for them to try a new and more promising approach to the problem of reviving woild trade. The inquiry into nutrition has been followed by an inquiry into ways in which the standard of living might be raised by national and international action, and definite proposals are now being examined. Much investigation still requires to be made, but the movement is already well under way. There is real hope that before the end of his new term of office Mr Bruce may have the satisfaction of seeing Governments co-operating effectively on the lines lie has advocated for promoting the welfare of the world.