NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22896, 26 November 1937, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

POSER FOR BIOLOGISTS Jf avc accept the theory of Dr. Julian Huxley and most biologists wo arc forced to believe that blind forces have produced that which is not blind, writes a correspondent in the Listener. That is to say, "the processes of more or less random mutation and natural selection" have given these biologists the ability to sit on thrones viewing from «ibove these processes in which they themselves are involved. But can blind forces make men see? I am reminded of what Tennyson said when the argument turned 011 the problem of faith: "It may be hard to believe, but it is harder still not to believe." GRASSLAND IMPROVEMENT "All are agreed that to improve the grasslands, which constitute one of Britain's most valuable natural resources, must add to the nation's wealth and strengthen our equipment for the defence of our national interests. This is a matter of the closest concern to the whole community," said the British Minister of Agriculture, 31 r. AY. S. Morrison, in a recent speech. "What I want to emphasise and re-emphasise is that our grasslands constitute a most important natural reserve of fertility which is capable of considerable expansion. No effort should be spared to build up that reserve until it stands at the highest level that can he reached. In this way there will also be provided for the nation a store of fertility from which, in a time of emergency, we can draw food for ourselves and our stock."

VILLAGE SURVIVAL IN LONDON

This little mile of richest London, says Mr. Ivor Brown, writing of Mayfair, lias always retained some rural quality, or, at least, the air of a small country town. It is rich in lanes and alleys, in tiny, huddled general stores and queer taverns for the lackeys which have always kept their smack of horse and groom and still seem to echo the thirsty gossip of the running footmen. Within a few yards of Berkeley Square is a shop that you could only imagine in a village, a one-room store where you might buy anything from a biscuit to a bootlace. Nobody seems to be knocking it down. AVhen the whole of our human, humorous, domestic, likeable Mayfair has been destroyed and replaced by the blank facade of Magnifico Mansions, some of these domestic midgets will surely, by a miracle, escape destructive notice, like the mouse in the lion's cage, and people will still be dropping in to buy a quarter of tea, twenty "fags" and a packet of postcards; more especially to hear and give the tattle, and the scandal of the undying London village.

THE "CLAN SCOTLAND" Regrets sometimes expressed at the lack of some unifying aim on the part of British youth, and wishes that some purpose could be found that would give young people in England the happy activity of such countries as Holland and Denmark, together with a national pride (not inane patriotism), are discussed by a Scotsman writing to the Listener. It may be of interest, he says, to learn that we in Scotland already have an organisation known as the "Clan Scotland," which seeks to supply this long-felt need of some higher purpose to which Scottish youth may devote its latent energy and everincreasing leisure. Aery briefly, the Clan Scotland ideal is that of a nation organised not as a regiment, but on the principle of a team. Such an organisation gives scope for both individual "play" and considerable selfdiscipline. Every member of the Clan Scotland is pledged to be a good citizen of and loyal to Scotland, Great Britain the British Commonwealth of Nations and the whole civilised world. It is tho Clan Scotland's self-imposed duty to investigate economic, social and cultural conditions in Scotland, and by consulting expert opinion—-especially conflicting expert opinion—endeavour to arrive at a true diagnosis of our difficulties and to suggest, and, indeed, by constitutional methods, actually introduce, reforms which it considers essential. All members of the Clan Scotland are Christians and pledged to support Christianity, which is n basic force in the movement. Tho Clan Scotland hopes to regain for Scotland the high physical, cultural and economic position among the nations of the world which she once held, so, making her a fitter partner for England in a Greater Britain, which perhaps some day may lead tho nations of tho world toward a higher and more peaceful civilisation.

STATE VERSUS CHURCH "The case which the Stato can put against tho Church is surely a very formidable one," said Canon R. B. Lloyd,' addressing tho Modern Churchmen's Conference at Cambridge. "With nineteen hundred years of Christianity and many hundreds of years of unfettered opportunity it is still only bv power politics that we can hopo to live. Only by economic nationalism in these days of general distrust and insecurity can we hope to feed our people. Only by a ruthless suppression of individual egotism can we bo sufficiently unified to act swiftly in a world where the striking of the first blow may mean the difference between destruction and survival. The Church, so far as we can sec, has made no vital contribution to the solution of these problems. From a national point of view, unless it is identified with th«» State, it is a divisive force, its claim to educate the young is quite intolerable if the nation is, to be master in its own house. It is out of touch with the heroic qualities of life which wo have rediscovered for ourselves in the bout 1 of our utmost need. As regards its claims to independent authority or freedom to teach what is not authorised by the State, there can be only one answer, and that is—an emphatic and totalitarian No! I am afraid this attitude of the State must bo regarded as a nemesis on the Church which on tho one hand has never really separated itself from power politics, nor on the other hand has over set itself constructively to judge any particular economic order. It does not seem to have realised the tremendous social import of its own message about human personality or tho demands of human fellowship, it was content with tho general toleration given to it to preach and the general understanding that its ethics were relatively inapplicable to public affairs."