“Snarling Nations”

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 272, 20 November 1934, Page 6

“Snarling Nations”

Speaking at a welcome home to Dr. F. W. Norwood, of the City Temple, London, Mr. Lloyd George described the world as a jungle in which the nations were prowling and snarling at each other. Any moment a mistaken gesture or a misunderstood arrangement might make them spring again at each other’s throats. They wanted as many preachers of peace as they could get and as soon as possible. Others-were mobilising their armies, preparing the guns and bombers; let them mobilise the forces of peace. During the last two or three years he had been walking in memory through that jungle from 1914 to 1918, every turn of it, reconstructing its horrors.

What struck him most was not even the terrible carnage, but the absolute indifference with which it was regarded, the acquiescence of the most highly civilised nations in Christendom in all the destruction, devastation, slaughter, mutilation, and suffering. When Russia went out of the war it was not because it saw a great light. It went out because the ineptitude of its rulers had deprived it of every chance and prospect of winning. When Germany made peace it was not because the principles of peace had at last seized upon the hearts of the German people, but because starvation was coming into their homes and they could no longer resist the appeal. Italy at the end of the war had fewer pacifists than when it entered the war.« Let them not trust to human nature. It was a savage race, the race of mankind, when it was roused, when its ferocity was stirred.

The Otaki committee of the Palmerston North Hospital Board reported to yesterday’s meeting that it had inspected the records of patients who had recently been inmates of the Otaki hospital', and satisfaction was expressed at the increased use that was being made of this institution and at the substantial proportion of fees -Sfefch was being 1 collected.

A' thief who made a habit of entering houses in the early morning pleaded guilty at Auckland yesterday to 17 charges. Frederick Owen Murch, aged 21, who had been entering houses in the afternoon using a skeleton key, admitted nine charges of stealing goods worth £SO and £4 in cash. He was committed for sentence.