OPTIMISTS AT ROTARY LUNCHEON

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 11

OPTIMISTS AT ROTARY LUNCHEON

MR COATES AND DR MOTT REPUDIATE PESSIMISM.

The Prime Minister and Dr J. R. Mott, at the Rotary Club's luncheon to-day, spoke optimistically of efforts to bring about better understandgs between the nations. Their presence at the luncheon, attracted many Rotarians, who received them enthusiastically. Professor J. B. Condliffe was in the chair. The president, Mr E. 11. Wyles, who welcomed the PriiYie Minister, said that the club, recognised no political party, but welcomed Mr Coates as a man who had risen to the highest position in New Zealand. Dr Mott was welcomed by the chairman. NOT A PESSIMIST. Dr Mott said that the world situation was unprecedented in opportunity for friendly and constructive influence. There were, it was true, sinister influences that made this a time of urgency. The situation was surrounded by dangers, partly owing to corrupt influences. The age-long conflict between rich and poor, employed and employer, was being continued. The world, internationally, was surcharged with suspicion, fear, and cupidity. Passions and motives were pulling nations backwards and forwards. He was not pessimistic, however, because there were also great unifying influences which would combat the undesirable influences. Commercial and industrial organisation was spreading a network of co-operation and of good feeling. There were, also, the League of Nations, the World Court, international conferences, co-operation in the fight against disease, and gatherings of scientists, such as were held in New Zealand and Honolulu recentl}’-. Scientific conferences were incalculably valuable. Religious influences were binding the nations and races together, and were sweeping away misunderstandings. There w’ere good understandings between the nations of the English-speaking countries —Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the great mother of them all, for England was regarded as mother by the United States as much as by countries of the British Empire. Every English-speaking country had a tolerant religion, built around the central spirituality of the ages, Jesus Christ. There was a knowledge of a common sacrifice in the war, the strongest bond of all. Finally, the Englishspeaking people confronted common problems. They had to subdue some of the vastest areas in the world; and they had to deal with materialism and secularism. Those forces must be grappled with the close hand. The tide of materialism must be turned back, and secularism must be shot down. Still another problem was to impress Christianity, on Eastern and Western nations in perfect unity-, PROUD TO BE BRITISH. The Prime Minister said that he was proud to be a Britisher when he realised what the British had done to bring about , the desirable understanding Dr Mott had referred to. The Locarno Pact was at least a sincere effort to help in that direction. To bring peace to the world was a great ideal. “Tf we look forward to it confidently,” the Prime Minister said, “we surely will succeed. I am not pessimistic. Success- may.not come in this generabut it wilt come in future generations. The efforts certainly will succeed.”