WORLD SECURITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25202, 15 May 1945, Page 6

WORLD SECURITY

PART FOR ROTARY ORGANISED FRIENDSHIP Stating that the central and most urgent problem being faced by statesmen at the San Frincisco Conference was that of remaining united, the district governor of Rotary, Mr Harold Thomas, in an address entitled "Beyond Victory" at the Rotary CJub luncheon yesterday, referred to the part Rotarians could play in dealing with that problem. Rotary, he said, could make it« greatest contribution to the welfare of mankind through its fourth object, namely, the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service. Mr Thomas recalled a recent statement by Mr Anthony Eden in which he said that the Rotary movement could do more to promote international understanding than any Foreign Secretary. Mr Thomas added that Rotary would not get very far in the advancement of international understanding unless Rotarians were prepared to take the trouble to understand the movement, and he was painfully aware of a great deal of misunderstanding of it among Rotarians. The aim in Rotary organisation and administration was to make organised friendship effective in the community and throughout the world through the four objects of Rotary. ~ The San Francisco Conference There appeared to be no doubt that an international organisation would emerge from the San Francisco Conference. There was to be a real attempt to organise the world for peace on a basis of collective security, hacked by armed force, while the parties to the agreement were to retain individually complete national sovereignty. That itself was a contradiction in terms. The collective control of armed force and unrestricted national sovereignty were incompatible elements if left to themselves. "We must assume, then, that our representatives at San Francisco are facing the fact that the world is not yet ready for the final and logical step in the organising of collective security between States —the limitation of national sovereignty,'' Mr Thomas continued. "We are still in the stage of •wanting to have our cake and eat it. We have not, apparently, been hurt sufficiently yet to do what our commonsense tells us we should do. Making a Compromise Work "In these the delegates are quite wisely taking the view put forward by Mr Fraser that a defective world organisation is better than no world organisation. After all. it is not surprising that the charter for world organisation is going to be imperfect. The system of government in each separate State represented at the conference is imperfect." The question was whether any compromise likely to be reached would work, said Mr Thomas. With the factor of organised friendship and goodwill present, on which Rotary was based, it was conceivable that a defective paper charter could be made to work. There wag* only one way in which Rotary should go to work on the problem. It must inspire and encourage individual Rotarians first to understand Rotary, and then 20 on to the development of understanding of the basic problems of international relationship, and particularly of the points of view of the peoples of other lands.

THE HAMILTON SEAT LABOUR CAMPAIGN CLAIMS BY MINISTER (0.c.) HAMILTON. Monday "This is no ordinary by-election," said the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, when speaking in support of the candidature of Mr C. A. Barrell (Labour) in Hamilton East -tonight. The result, he added, would have a tremendous effect on the outcome of the next general election. The Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, presided over a good attendance. Mr Nordmeyer claimed that the Government had done a splendid job, not only in time of peace, but in time of war. He quoted figures to show that deposits in various banking institutions had increased by £146.000,000 since 1939. The fact had .justified the Government's action in raising internal war loans and in introducing stabilisation in order to check inflation and soaring prices. Mr Nordmeyer said it was the Government's intention to extend social security benefits and to remove many existing anomalies. The minimum wages an employer could legally pay would be fixed by Parliament. No Government liked imposing restrictions, and many wartime controls must vanish when peace was finallv declared. Concluding, Mr Nordmeyer contended that the Democratic Labour candidate, Mr J. A. Lee, had no hope of winning the election. Any votes cast for Mr Lee would represent votes for Mrs Ross (National). In answer to a question, the Minister said the Government had not decided what would happen with regard to the country quota. His own view was that there was no justification for its existence. Asked who would meet the 3sd an hour increase in wages, the Minister said that if an examination _of an employer's books showed that it could not be paid out of profits -without increasing the price of goods produced, a subsidy might be paid to him. Mr Barrell gave a short address outlining ten planks in his platform. Votes of thanks and confidence were carried.

OBITUARY MR THOMAS BARFORD (0.C.) HAMILTON, Monday The death has occurred of Mr Thomas Barford, aged 85. Mr Barford was born in Northampton, England, and came to New Zealand 60 years ago. He farmed at Ngaruawahia and Te Kowhai until 20 years ago, when he came to Hamilton, later moving to Matamata. Mr Barford was a keen horticulturist and for many years was superintendent of the gardening section of the Waikato Winter Show. He is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. ROADS AT EGMONT As from April 1, 1945, roads in Egmont National Park are to be gazetted as main highways, according to advice received from the Main Highways Board by the park board. The toil fees of 2s 6<! a car and Is a head have been abolished, and future maintenance costs are to be provided from the Main Highways Account. CARNATION SOCIETY The first annual meeting of the New Zealand Carnation Society has been held. The membership totals 81, including growers from as far south as Invercargill. The following officers were elected;— President, Mr W. G. Edmunds, vice-presidents. Dr I'arr, Messrs J. B. .Aicken, J. M. F. Connelly, .A. Seaman, E. T. Smith, Mrs J. Stuart; committee. Messrs J. Smith. A. F. Kearsley, H. G. Harponr, A. Brljevich. M. Wareham, Mesdames J. Williamson, A. Wallace, W. Thomas, Miss O. Ford; honorary secretary, Mr S. R. Wood; honorary auditor, Mr W. T. Ford.