AFTER THE WAR

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1917, Page 4

AFTER THE WAR

LECTURE BY MR. L. F. de BERRY Last evening Mr. L. F. de Berry, M.A., of Hokitika, delivered a splendid address on "Post-War Problems" to the members of tlie Trinity Institute, together with a number of those interested, in the working of the Institute. The President (Mr. J. F. Wilson) occupied .tlie chair. There was a very good attendance and the lecturer was followed with wrapt attention throughout. The subject, which is such a tremendously broad one and of special and vital interest, was dealt with suggestively and the lecturer left abundant food for thought with his auditors. He dwelt at length yon the tremendous problem of the future government of the British Empire, with emphasis on the respective theories of a federated Empire as advocated by Lionel Curtis, and a slight modification of the present relations between the Mother Country and the Dominions as advocated by Richard Jebb who is utterly opposed to the thoory advocated by Curtis. He touched on the future commercial policy of the Empire; the lack of initiative in the immediate past by the British traders and people with regard to inventions and tl*e use of new machines being specially noted. The enormous output of the" average workman in America as compared with the British workman was shown to be due to the American initiative and to the wonderful use made of modern inventions in machinery. The colour . problom as it applies to the British Empire ,was then touched on, with a plea that a more sympathetic understanding be applied to what is admittedly a delicate and a difficult problem. The much-debated question of Capital and Labour was dealt with from the broad standpoint that there was a tremendous amount of misunderstanding and ignorance of the problem on both sides. No doubt Labour will come into its own, but it will only be after a thorough understanding of the economic conditions which govern the industrial life of , all nations. The inauguration of tb* Workmen's Education Association was a wonderful advance along the lines of the education of the worker, and this movement must undoubtedly play a great part in moulding the future of the various countries of the Empire. The lecturer concluded a very able and powerful address by emphasising the extraordinary fallacies upon which a great deal of what had heretofore passed muster as education was founded, and he eulogised the wonderful work now being done in England by the new Minister of Education, the Hon. H. C. Fisher, whose advanced ideas mark a new era in the education system o fthe Mother Country.

At the conclusion of the address a hearty vote of thanks "tras proposed by Mr. J. F. Wilson and seconded by Mr. W. Parfitt. After' several oi those present had spoken in high appreciation of the fine address given, the motion was carried by acclamation.