IMPERIAL POLICY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 45, 21 January 1939, Page 10

IMPERIAL POLICY

PRESERVATION OF PEACE. DOMINIONS’ PART. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. Greater resolution in the policies of constituent parts of the British Commonwealth and the democracies generally for the preservation of world peace was urged by the Australian High Commissioner in London, Mr S. M. Bruce, at a State luncheon. The luncheon was held in honour of the visit of Mr Bruce, the Premier of Ontario (Mr Mitchell Hepburn), and the Minister of Public Works of Ontario (Mr C. A. Campbell). They were through pasengers to Sydney. The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) represented the Government and extended a welcome to the visitors to New Zealand.

The luncheon was attended by Auckland members of the Legislature, representatives of local bodies and defence forces, and other leading citizens.

Mr Fraser said Mr Bruce was not a stranger to New Zealand. He had visited Auckland frequently in the past. The Australian High Commissioner was a fantiilar figure in southern lands, and his name was a household name. Mr Bruce was as wellknown in Geneva as ho was in London. He was an international figure. He was responsible for much splendid work, including that dealing with nu tritional problems. Messrs Hepburn and Campbell were strangers among them, as far as it was possible to call members of another British Dominion strangers, and to them, too. New Zealand extended a hearty welcome. Mr Fraser said lie did not think there had ever been a time when, in the interest of the British Commonwealth and other democracies, they should make it clearer to the world that the British Commonwealth had a real foundation upon ties of blood and friendship. People in New Zealand weie perplexed as to what the outcome would lie of events in the Old World. He had no doubt that Mr Bruce might give some measure of hope greater than what people could gather in this part of the world. NEED FOR RESOLUTENESS. The democracies seemed to be on the retreat, Mr Bruce said. He agreed with what Mr Fraser had said about the British Commonwealth and democracies working together in solving the problems confronting the world today. At the same time, he said, he believed that the things everybody would like to see would not come about unless they were more resolute. The democracies were on their trial and their people must not lie content with merely talking about what the democracies were doing. Australia and New Zealand in the past had been very virile democracies, and it behoved all to makt. their contribution toward firmly establishing the system. They should show what democracies should be

Ideas that position could he gained only by force had to be destroyed. The democracies had to make this clear to the world. They had to bring about political and economic appeasement, so that all countries could go forward.

Before he left London, Mr Bruce said, Mr 4V. J. Jordan (New Zealand High Commissioner) had asked hint to convey his regards to New Zealand. Mr Jordan, Mr Bruce added, was representing New Zealand well. CAN ADI AN DEFENCE.

Mr Hepburn said lie had been impresed with the remarks about the absolute need for Empire solidarity. In bis view the demoeracies to-day were engaging in too much paternalism, and people were getting soft. In Ontario, the richest section of Canada, there were many people on relief. This was an indictment of the system of democracy. There was a changed spirit in Canada to-day concerning armaments, continued Mr Hepburn. He himself had opposed ari increased appropriation for armaments in 1927, when it was difficult to conceive that there would be totalitarian States. He had since seen pictures of the conquest of Ethiopia and the war in China. People now knew there were nations out to conquer the world. Mr Hepburn added that he had reason to believe Canada was about to vote more money for armaments than since tile war.

One of the most pleasing things was the lining up of the United States with the democracies.

Mr Hepburn said he was surprised to meet in the ship people from New Zealand who had little fear of invasion. It would probably be brought home to them later.