THE WORLD’S PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21979, 14 June 1933, Page 13

THE WORLD’S PEACE

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —What are the majority of people doing in the interest of the peace of the world? Big conferences do a lot of good, but we have the promotion of peace practically in our own hands. Most people did not want war in 1914, yet it came and almost every one suffered. There must be something wrong somewhere. A simple way out of this war talk, which leads to wars, is for all to do their best to stop it. Parents can play a large part in this matter by declining to buy toy pistols, guns, and swords for their children. In alniost every home which one visits one sees children with these toy weapons. Parents should have enough control also over their children to forbid them going to war pictures and Wild West” pictures. The war pictures in schools and halls should be taken down. Why should an innocent little child have to look at a picture of a bayonet charge all day? It is degrading. There is no glory in war, as nothing justifies killing a man. I consider I am doing my bit towards peace as I did in enlisting in 1914 for active service. . , I have a hobby of writing to pen friends overseas, people in all countries, whom I have never met. I have over 160 of these friends, and I never owe them a letter or post card very long. To some I have been writing since 1911, and/to the majority for 10 years. It is a pleasant hobby, and if we all adopted it everybody would know everybody else, and if a war were mooted we would say, “Why should we fall out with that country? I have a lot of friends there.” They would say the same about us. This hobby to which I refer advertises the country through the use of post cards of New Zealand, and it is interesting to receive post cards, letters, stamps, etc. in return. I have received ; a good number of inquiries for pen friends overseas from different parts of New Zealand. If anyone who requires a pen friend in any country will forward a stamped addressed envelope to me, I shall be pleased to supply the necessary assistance if possible.---! am, etc., William Jones. 71 Queen’s drive, Musselburgh, dune 12.