The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1925. PACIFIC RELATIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 August 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1925. PACIFIC RELATIONS.

Delivered every evening by ■> o’clock -n Hawera, Manaia. Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyvilie, Patea, Waverley. Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai. Meremere, Fraser Hoad. an Ararata.

Hie recent conference at Honolulu, at which was formed the Institute of Pacific Relations, was possibly of considerably more importance in the international scheme ot things than the average New Zealander which includes the average public man—has realised. Inside a week the Dominion will be lavishing its hospitality upon the officers and men of the visiting American fleet, and Professor Cond'liffe of Canterbury College, it he is wise, will seize the opportunity of the friendly atmosphere prevailing to urge the claimts of the Institute upon the people of the Dominion. He In : been asked to undertake the formation of a branch in New Zealand, and no doubt that will be done. But, presumably, a branch could be formed by half a dozen people. What is wanted is not that half a dozen, or half a hundred, or five hundred, enthusiasts should draw up a constitution and sets of rules, and add one more to the collection of badges on their coat lapels: but that the public mind generally should be brought into close contact with, the realities of Pacific politics. What with leagues, and clubs, and unions and all tile rest of it, we have branches enough of one .sort or another in our midst now. Most of them .serve very useful purposes in their way, and the addition of the institute on. Pacific Relations will not make much difference one way or the other. The aim of the Institute*, however, .should be to undertake missionary work and to reach as wide an audience as possible, not to lorni its members into a close corporation. Apart from the danger of committing the EinipLre to intervention in the private disputes of other nations, New Zealand can afford to stand off and watch European diplomacy with no very intimate concern. This country is linked with Europe by Imperial and —largely in consequence of that relationship—economic considerations; politically, and as a nation in her own right, .she has more connection with Japan than with France, with California than with Germany. To New Zealanders, then, the aim of the newly-formed Institute* —to build up in each of the Pacific countries <an organisation fior the .study of the real facts of iu ter national problems, and to consider ways and means of building up such an international organisation as may prevent the possibility of war—should commend itself most heartily.