GERMANY AND AFTER WAR TRADE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 16, 26 February 1918, Page 6

GERMANY AND AFTER WAR TRADE.

Speaking at the Otago Boys’ High School break-up, recently, Mr Fred Calvert —lawyer, and president of the Old Boys*-^Association—-had the pluck to talk: staight, sensible stuff to the lads; stuff’that made the timid old woman (of both sexes) - in the community shrink with apprehension, and that section: dubbed by Lloyd-George “the half-way house pacifists** catch their breath in despair, says “John Bull's Register, *' Mr Calvert preached redblood patriotism and then, referring to Germany's pre-war position in the commercial world; he asked: Why should Germany, beat us in trade? Could we not do as good work as she? Of course we could, allow her to do as she had done in the 1 past, and swamp our markets with, her goods. What Germany could do we could do, and do it better, too. He wanted them to determine, whatever;walk of life they choose, that they would beat the Germans. Another failing of our national character, he said ' Was > to believe * in the good faith

pf others to an almost ludicrous extent. We had been deluded and fooled by German protestations of friendship. This faith was usually regarded as a virtue. Carried too far it was a grievous fault. Once a man or a nation had been proved to be an unscrupulous liar, disregarding his pledge, it was a fool that trusted his word: again. There was a'quality, too, that, was generally spoken of as a vice, but which, in his opinion, might be a national virtue. That was the quality of hate. He wanted them all to foster a good, honest hate for Germany and all her works. Let them not be fooled, by her protestations of friendship, nor let apparent honesty in the future’" cause them to forget the horror of her deeds.., Let them keep alive their righteous indignation and unquenchable hatred for .those who have brought about this frightful war. Never forget, never forgive, and have no dealings with a people who have drenched the world with blood in a premediated attempt to crush our Empire. Let them make no mistake: this war was not the work merely of the Prussian ruling class, but of the whole German nation.

Plain uncensored truth this, and sen* sible advice to the coming business and professional men of the Dominion.