W.E.A. Lecture

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 99, 28 April 1941, Page 6

W.E.A. Lecture

The first of the series of public lectures being given under the auspices of the W.E.A. Community Centre for Adult Education was held on Saturday evening at the Theosophieal ~11 all. An interested audience listened to Mr. J. O. Shearer, M.A., lecturer in economics at Victoria University College. The subject of the evening was “The Economic Basis of a Just Peace.” In introducing his subject, Mr. Shearer pointed out the many difficulties that would confront the peacemakers and stressed the importance of an enlightened and thoughtful populace. Jt was difficult to be rational when emotions roused by war were uppermost, in this war we were dealing with opponents who followed strange creeds, dictators whose motto is expediency. Mussolini’s authority, for example, wasMaschiavelli, who stated the convenient [ doctrine that “A prince is not bound to keep his promise any longer than his | interests dictate.” Looking backwards to the conditions j under which the last peace was made, the lecturer reviewed in detail the many factors, and particularly the economic ones, which had caused friction. The last peace settlement was dictated and not negotiated. This was a constant irritant to the vanquished. While a fully negoiated peace might be difficult, it would have eased the position, had the terms of the settlement been open to discussion. While economic factors were of vital importance they were secondary to the human lives through which they acted. War settlements were made under conditions of released emotion. New ideas and ideals arise which are difficult to forsee. The utterances of British leaders suggest a new world with co-operation and greater equality as the basic idea. This suggests greater planning and yet freer trade. Sir John Reith pictures a planned world. The important aspects of inter* i national trade, the breaking down of i trade barriers, a new policy for rnigraI tion were discussed at length. * An interesting discussion followed and a hearty vote ot thanks to the lecturer by Mr. Lewin, the chairman, closed the meeting.