IN THE PACIFIC.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 14 June 1934, Page 9

IN THE PACIFIC.

Centre of Future World Events. DR F. W. NORWOOD'S VIEW. The' prediction that world events of the future would develop in the Pacific and centre round Australia and New Zealand, rather than the old world, was made by the Rev Dr F. W. Norwood, of the City Temple, London, who was accorded a civic reception this morning at the Council Chambers. There was a large attendance. Dr Norwood is a distinguished preacher and one of the outstanding Congregationalists of today. He is on a world tour, having recently visited South Africa, Japan, China nad India. The Deputy-Mayor (the Rev J. K. Archer) presided. Mr Archer described Dr Norwood as a prophet and as the minister of a prophetic church. Not only was Dr Norwood a prophet, but he specialised upon the peace movement. Probably few living men, if any, had their fingers more definitely on the pulse of the world, as far as peace was concerned, than Dr Norwood. The Rev R. Warnock, president of Lhe Christchurch Ministers’ Association, in welcoming Dr Norwood, said that the high traditions of the City Temple had been maintained by Dr Norwood, who was the great apostle of world fellowship and peace. It was generous of their guest to turn off the beaten track and visit this isolated Dominion. Dr Norwood said that he, in common with others, was longing for some other way to settle international disnutes than by war. He had a desire to see the world and have a close look at the non-European countries. Having come to that decision, he booked his passage immediately, and it was probable that few other peoole had left on a world tour with so little preparation. He did not mean to write a book “ You will be pleased to hear that,” he said. “I want to meet significant people like you.”

It was his belief that Australia and New Zealand would be in the centre of world affairs in the future. The -rpost significant things in the world would ha open on this side and not on the other In the Pacific Ocean nations that were not young would be challenging Britain’s assumption and would find her unprepraed for that challenge.