NO MORE WAR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 September 1924, Page 7

NO MORE WAR.

DEMONSTRATION IN lIAWERA

In conjunction with the no-more-war demonstrations dvgaiiised : thtenghoilt the civilised world for September 21, a well-attended public meeting was held in the Grand Theatre last evening.

The following motion was put to the meeting and carried with prolonged applause with three dissentients: “That this meeting of citizens of HaAvera,_ New Zealand, sends fraternal greetings to similar gatherings now’ being held throughout the world to express abhorrence of war and militarism, joins with them in declaring it to he the duty of all peoples and governments to strive for universal disarmament, and calls upon the New Zealand Government to (1) Pursue a policy of international co-operation; (b) support a strengthened and enlarged League of Nations; (e) urge the settlement of international disputes by conciliation and judicial arbitration; and (d) support the convocation of an international conference to achieve these purposes. That a copy of the above resolution be forwarded to the Prime Ministers of New r Zealand > and Great Britain.” Mr P. O’Dea presided, and in -introducing the speakers referred to. the growth, of the no-more-war movement and to the fact that similar demonstrations w’ere being held throughout Europe, America, Australia, and other parts of the civilised world. The idea of ano-more-war day had originated with the International Federation of Trade Unions, whose Peace Congress in 1922 was presided over by the federation’s president, the Rt. Hon. J. H. Thomas, now Secretary of State for the Colonies. The movement - had enlisted the support of a large number of other organisations and individuals interested in peace. Apologies had been received from Rev. H. \V. Monaghan and Rev. Mr Oxbiow. ■Mr \Y. A. Slieat, in moving the resolution, stressed the need for a policy of international co-operation. Such was essential to the wellbeing of the nations, and was therefore dictated for them by plain self-interest if on nc. higher grounds. The day of national isolation, of national exclusiveness arid-self-sufficiency, was dead and gone. Recent years had seen tremendous developments in the interdependence of nations. Every nation had a powerful interest in the peace, wellbeing, and progress of other nations. The first 5 result ol war .must be the blocking of channels of trade and intercourse vital to the existence of the peoples, the severing of the arteries through which flowed the life blood of the- nations. For this reason the only sound policy ior any-nation and for all nations xvas one of international co-operation. War was no longer an affair of professional fighters, but of nations mobilised to the last unit of their resources. Women, ei’en children, were flung into the arena, where they Were exposed to the same risks of mutilation and death as their fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers. If the Avorld Avas allowed to revert to the old methods, as it inevitably would if men failed iioav in their efforts to organise the Avorld forces of peace, the consequences were too terrible to contemplate. Western civilisation, already dangerously weakened and impoA'erished, might be completely destroyed. Mrs Norman Martin, president of the Hawera Theosophical Society, in seconding the motion, referred to the existence in the world of tA\'o opposing ideals, that which sought peace and that which made for war, and asked her hearers to imagine the difference that might have folloAved if the former had gained the ascendency at the close of the war. Those w’ho asked Avhv they should support a no-more-war movement had only to use their imagination and try to picture what future Avars w’ould be like. There Avas no doubt that if there Ayas another great Avar it would far surpass-the last in horror. It would be an affair not mainly of soldiers, but of chemists. There might haA’e been some glory about the w’ars of old w r hen open fighting ivas the rule,, hut there AA’ould he no glory about the scientific Avar of the future. Women and children Avould suffer as directly as the men. It Avas time for AA’omen to' use their political poAver to end the inhuman business of Avar. The creation of a poAverful u’ill to peace would of itself through the influence of thought poAver in the AA’orld go a long Avay toAA’ards ending Avar. As the representatne of a society founded upon Brotherhood she endorsed most heartily the sentiments embodied in the resolution.

Rev. Mr Greenwood, in supporting the resolution, said the no-more-war movement was one that should have the support of every section and member of the Christian Church. He believed in the brotherhood of man, and war was fundamentally opposed to that ideal. Though proud of his own nationality, he thought, we should all he prepared to see the good qualities ill other branches of the human family. He had been criticised for associating with the no-more-war movement because it was fathered by the Labour Party. He supported the movement lie cause of it's intrinsic soundness, and congratulated the Labour Party on originating tbe movement in Hawera.

Mr J. W. Mnnro, M.P. for Dunedin .'North, spoke of the growing conviction among the working classes of the world that they had' nothing to gain from war. What good had followed from the last war? Could, we fairly claim to be better, off in any respect? Mr Massey had claimed a year or so ago that he had some of the German reoaration money ‘‘in his pocket,” but vir Mnnro inedicted that New Zealand would never see any reparations nor would Great Britain 'receive any more. He often came across war memorials inscribed ‘‘Lest We Forget,” which lie always interpreted to mean “We cannot afford to forget.” They could not afford to forget the lessons of the last var. because enormous as bad been the sacrifices there was no doubt that 'mother great war would exceed them : >y tenfold or one hundredfold. He pioted figures to show the stupendous sacrifices in life and wealth involved in tbe last war.. Who bore this burden? The main burden in all wars fell upon the working classes, and for that reason it was natural and appropriate that from the ranks of tin’s section should come the initiative in no-more-war demonstrations. In New Zealand life had licon confiscated, hut not wealth. During the war there had been discrimination in favour of the iropertied interests, .and this had been carried further sime. Whereas in 1910 fo per cent of the taxes were derived from income and 29 per cent from Customs, in 1923 the position had. been reversed —43 per cent from Customs and 24 per cent from income. This showed clearly that the burden of paying f°r the war was being shifted on to the mass of the neo-ole to the relief of the interests that had done well out of the war, as had always happened after wars in the oast. It was the working people in all cases who fought and suffered and paid. Never before had there been a time when a morb favourable opportunity existed, for a great step forward in the direction of international peace and disarmament. Mr Munro concluded with an eloquent

appeal for international understanding and goodwill. Rev.*E. N. Goring, in moving a vote of thanks to the"'-speakers and the chair, stated that he was heart and soul, with the movement for peace, irrespective of what party took the initiative. He was pleased at the overwhelming vote in favour of the motion, which was one they should all support, as it called on the Government to work in the direction of peace. MEKONG IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. Sent. 22. At a meeting last evening, presided over by Mr T. Jlrindle, president of tbe Labour Party, the following resolution was carried :—“This meeting of citizens of Wellington sends far tern a 1 greetings to similar meetings being held throughout the world to express abhorrence of war and militarism, and ioins with thorn in declaring it to be the duty of all peoples and governments to strive lor universal disarmament, and calls upon the New Zealand Government to pursue a .policy of international co-op-eration and support, strengthened and enlarged by tbe League of Nations. We urge, tbe settlement of international disputes by arbitration and .support tbe convocation cf an international conference to achieve these purposes.”