CIVIC WELCOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23123, 23 August 1938, Page 11

CIVIC WELCOME

OYEESEAS DELEGATES MISSION OF CONFERENCE INFLUENCE FOR PEACE PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE • "As an established body, seeking to promote international amity nnd remove barriers to common understanding and mutual trust, the British Commonwealth .Relations Conference exercises for peace an influence which will become the more powerful as its good work for humanity expands," said the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, in welcoming to Auckland at a civic reception in tho council chamber of the Town Hall yesterday overseas delegates and their wives who are proceeding to Sydney for the conference. There was a largo attendance. Sir Ernest remarked that the conference was of increasing importance in a world whose horizon was still darkened by war clouds, causing the thoughts of British people to be concentrated on world peace. A message of welcome from the Prime Minister,- the Et. Hon. M. J. Savage, who was unable to be present because of indisposition, was read by the town clerk, Mr. J. Melling. In it tho Prime Minister said it gave him great pleasure to extend to the representatives of the United Kingdom, Eire and Canada a warm welcome from the ' Government of New Zealand, and an assurance that it was wliolehcartedly with them in purpose and principle. Only One Objective "Conditions throughout tho world' to-day are such as to make it more necessary than ever for all the nations in the British Commonwealth to keep in close touch with one another, and thus strengthen the ties of friendship and family relationship that have been so strong in the past, and must not be any less effective in the future," continued Mr. Savage. "Differences of opinion as to economic or political detail really do not matter, and need never matter so long as we have the same aim, which is to present to the whole world a united commonwealth with its free unity devoted to the maintenance of peace, progress and justice. ' "I hope the delegates will have a very successful conference, and will be able to return to their respective countries wiv.h firm impressions of national unity and loyality as the guiding principles in the life and development of Australia and New Zealand." Britain and Dominions The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, leader of the New Zealand delegation to the conference, said it gave enormous pleasure to meet visitors who had made themselves famous by their works and writings. While such conferences as the one pending coidd not impose their "" will on Governments, they were of real importance, because Governments were always willing to listen to opinions. In its relations with the Dominions, the British Government adopted the paradoxical idea that to bind them it must leave them free. Its attitude sprang from the wisdom gained by a country growrf grey in the art of governing men, and which was to-day the great hope in a world threatened bv autocracy and tyranny. *- Gilbert Archey, president or the Auckland branch of the Institute of Pacific Relations, referred to the value of study of problems that perhaps were unnoticed by many, but which might ■ vitally affect the Commonwealth of Nations. Mr. James Roberts, president of the New Zealand Labour Party, said there might be tho psychology of fear or of domination in the world to-day, but he believed the chief cause of unrest was economic, and he thought that, if the conference applied that principle to its researches, mucin good would result. Miss Ellen Melville welcomed the delegates on behalf of women's organisations. Feed for Discussion of Problems Sir Alfred Zirnmern, Montague Burton Professor of International Belations at Oxford University, said he was particularly interested at the reception being in the hands of the municipality, because the more he studied democracy, tho more he was convinced that the real test of its character was in its local institutions. "The conference we are attending is a post-war development," added Sir Alfred.- "Statesmen often feel they are unable to bring into force certain .things unless they are well discussed, and the affairs of th<j British Commonwealth have reached a stage when it is necessary that there should be discussion. In our modern life we must have a system by which informed minds should conduct research and discussion. "I would not be honest if I did not tell you that in those times there aro occasions when the British Government cannot help making rapid decisions on world affairs without going through the motions of discussions _ with Dominions, just as might do in their own case. Such being the case, British statesmen must have the vision or knowledge of what the average person is thinking in the Donnnions." Mr. Ernest Bevin, secretary of the British Transport and General \\orkers' Union, said he did not believe tho present form of the British Commonwealth was final. In some form it would help to carry on order in the world. It was difficult to project the mind '' ahead and see what ought to be done, but he hoped those at the Sydney conference would be able to project their minds effectively.