“JUST AND RIGHT”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 122, 24 May 1919, Page 5

“JUST AND RIGHT”

BISHOP ON~PEACE TERMS,

NEW ERA APPROACHING,

War and after-wav problems were referred to by Dr A. W. Averlll, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, in .speaking at a reception, by citizens at Taumarunui. Ho said that as a father ■ with two sons at the fxunt, he would be permitted to say that, while most thankful for what our New Zealand boys have done, he never underrated the work of the British “Tommies.” (Applause). vVo should consider it a great privilege that our boys fought side by side with them. We must never forget that the war might have been over in the first six months but toy the splendid defence of what the Germans had styled England’s “contemptible little army.” (Applause). But for the heroism of these men the Germans must have reached Pans and taken the Channel oorfs, which would have given the war % very different complexion. Wo had won the war, but we hud a very difficult time ahead, Mr Lloyd George was righf, when he said he aJ* peace more than war We View what he meant, Looking into the future, we could not say it looked very bright at present; still, all would agree that the peace terms, although severe, were perfectly just and right. Ho did not think anything could bring home to •he German pepple so much that they had lost as the peace terms had done. When the arnustice was signed the Germans welcomed what they thought was an unbeaten army, but when they saw the peace terms they would surely see that, their army was beaten. (Applause). The only hope for the peace of the world was that the peace terms should be as severe as they were. Suppose Germany had won the war. what, of peace terms would she have imposed upon us? Very much harder than ours. They talked very loudly when on tho winning side—like most bullies —but now they were on the other side they were slow to sign up. They would hang out till the fast day, bnt they would be sure to .sign. When that took place there would begin a new era for the world. The great difficulty was [Bolshevism, but he did not think wo had much to fear from Bolshevism. It was only the outcome of a very great war, and all great war brought such things in their train. When everything had become normal people would sober up, and the trouble would disappear. The war had been a great social leveller, and they wanted the world spirit, of the trenches brought, into, our daily, life. , That was the true Christian spirit of fellowship, comradeship, and bearing one another's burdens. When- that came about we would get the reconstructed world they had hoped and’prayed for Commenting upon what the Auckland diocese had done in the war, the. bishop said he had sent 22 of his clergy to tho ’ front. Two of these men, the Revs. C. A. Mallet fOhiiraj, and E. C. Cook i (New Plymouth) had given their lives, land three had received the Military , Cross for their work in the field. The ’diocese had also raised £12,000 for the j Church Institute at tho front.