WORLD ORDER

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 10

WORLD ORDER

SPIRITUAL VALUES NEEDED PROBLEMS OF REHABILITATION " There is in the world to-day far too widespread a desire for personal security and too little appreciation of the spiritual values," 6aid Miss Jean Begg, M.8.E., director of war services of the Y.W.C.A. overseas, in an address last night The problems that beset the world, she said, would never be solved unless they were approached in a spirit of helpfulness and sacrifice. The Leaders' Club of the Dunedin Y.W.C.A. sponsored the address, to which returned servicemen and women and members of voluntary organisations were invited. Miss Margaret Gibson, president of the club, presided, and Miss Jean Campbell, youth secretary of the New Zealand'Y.W.C.A., introduced the speaker to the large audience. Recent utterances of prominent men all over the world have given some idea of the magnitude of the difficulties involved in restoring the world to some sort of order. Miss Begg continued. Many countries still bore the terrible scars of war and their peoples were hungry and unsettled. In some of the smaller countries, the colonies and pi'otectorates, the impact of war had given rise to new political aspirations and demands, including, often, a genuine desire for .independence. Great Britain, in spite of malicious criticisms that had been freely made, was making an honest endeavour to assist these countries, hut the problem was one for the thinking people of all the world, and not for just one or two countries. ' In our own country, Miss Begg said, much serious consideration would have to be given to the rehabilitation of our servicemen and women._ These men and women were returning from a life in which decisions were followed by action, and many of them would be impatient of the delays inseparable from the workings of a democracy. Some of them would have ideas, political and otherwise, which they would consider should be put into operation immediately, and it would be some time before their mental readjustment would be complete. NEW ZEALAND POPULAR. Miss Begg went on to speak of the work of the Y.W.C.A. in North Africa and elsewhere, and described ' how popular the New Zealanders were wherever the division was sent. The New Zealand troops were everywhere recognised as good " mixers," she said, and it was particularly pleasant to see the firm friendship that existed between the pakeha and Maori soldiers. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks was moved by Miss Betty Bradley, and was carried by acclamation.