AFTER THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24506, 15 January 1941, Page 8

AFTER THE WAR

CHANGES IN BRITAIN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE CO-OPERATION AND - FRIENDSHIP w. —~ ' J (British Official Wireless) (united Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) .: ' RUGBY. Jan. 13. Mr Arthur Greenwood, a member of ■ the War Council, in a broadcast •peech dealing with Herr Hitler's recent contemptuous references to living conditions in Britain, said he admitted that there were defects in the British social structure, as there were inv Germany, but " the fundamental point of difference between us and Herr Hitler is that we have fought our way out of feudalism : towards freedom, whilst he wishes to impose a new feudalism. We now have a developing democratic system guided .by the public conscience, which, irrespective of Screed or party, has time and again asserted itself against social evils which impaired the free working of democracy, and one which is led by the people within, the limitations of their own experience and derives its powers from the people." "Speaking as having "been charged with' special responsibilities with regard to reconstruction," he said that cdnstruction work should lead to cooperation and friendship, better communications, the proper use of the world's material resourc es and prosperity, in which all share, and a world free from disease and social evils. Conditions of New World , The task of creating the conditions of. the new world did not rest on our shoulders alone. There must be a great and continuing co-operative effort in which all who were willing played their part, But Britain would take a rightful place in forcing: these efforts. The peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations must endeavour to .show that the brotherhood which we sought was established in a wider World. We had our common problems and our great responsibilities, to which the commonwealth would turn its mind with determination and hope. Dealing with the problems before his own country, Mr Greenwood contiued: "Britain, after the war, will not tolerate in her midst the spectacle of abject poverty, nor the existence of, that problem of industry which in the past has not been solved—the scourge of unemployment. It will. I- believe, be the pride of the nation to succour itsy citizens who during the, war or afterwards fall on evil days through reasons of disability, disease, and old age. We shall look forward to developing our educational system and social We are .planning to get. rid of ugliness- in our towns,, to build a fairer Britain, ind to. replace the hovels that remain, by .worthy homes. These things we can do if we harness the material resources at our hand to. the brain and brawn and the practical sagacity of our people."