Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1938. THE SEASON OF FESTIVITY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1938. THE SEASON OF FESTIVITY.

2Q ; EW ZEALANDERS are remarkably fortunate in the A circumstances in which they are once again celebrating the Christmas festival. Although we have our part in the affairs of a confused and troubled world, and as a national community have oiii 1 economic problems and difficulties, some ol them serious enough, the Dominion is generally prosperous and much is being done to lighten the lot of those of its .people who are less amply provided for than their average fellow-citizens.

A British Minister, Mr Ernest Brown, was quoted in one of yesterday’s cablegrams as claiming in the House ol: Commons that “relief of the misfortunes of unemployment through the insurance scheme, public assistance and general social services, was on a scale (in the United Kingdom) not matched in any other country in the world.” With all respect to Mr Brown, it may be suggested that he had overlooked New Zealand and that the relief of necessities in the categories he enumerated is even more liberal in this country than in Great Britain. To that it may be added—and the fact perhaps is one that should he emphasised at this season of the year—that the liberal, extension of social services is approved all but unanimously by the people of New Zealand. Political and other differences exist on this subject, but they relate almost entirely to matters of method and the measurement of available and prospective resources. In the mind of the average New Zealander there is no doubt whalever that genuine needs should be generously met.

With much to be thankful, for and to take comfort from in this time-honoured annual season of goodwill and joyous festivity, the people of the Dominion cannot be wholly unmindful of those' who are much less happily placed. The Chinese nation today is being subjected to all the horrors 01. war because it will not accept the terms of enslavement that .were outlined in part yesterday, in brutally frank terms, in a reported statement by the Japanese Premier, Prince Konoye. The people of Spain are in similarly evil case because an ambitious adventurer is backed and supported by the Fascist. Powers, while nations desirous of peace look on rather helplessly.

The fate today of members of the Jewish race who are being murdered, maltreated, robbed and hounded out of Germany and other European countries is one to awaken the pity of all the world. We may the more readily, even in the midst of the festive season, give some thought to these martyred peoples since at an ultimate view the fate of all humanity, not excluding even that of the present oppressors, is identified with theirs. If barbarity and savagery are to revive and flourish in the world, peace and security sooner or later will be denied to any section of humanity. For the present, there are oppressors and victims, as well as a great concourse of onlooking humanity which figures meantime in neither of these categories. Unless nobler standards of national and international conduct are re-established in the world, a time will come when there will be only victims, existing miserably, perhaps, in the twilight of a dying civilisation.

Against the background of so much that is dark and menacing, there have been, however, in the. days of approach to Christmas this year, some encouraging signs that the spirit of enlightened humanity is by no means dead in the world. The efforts that are being made to re-establish peace in Europe are painfully cramped and are in evident danger of being reduced to a mere mockery by the arrogance and bad faith of the aggressive dictatorships. Tn spite of all discouragements, however, Britain and France are endeavouring to uphold' principles of justice and reason in Europe and a number of other nations are quietly making their contribution to the same good and worthy end. Meantime there is in the Western hemisphere an increasing disposition to assert, the principles of democracy against those of barbaric dictatorship.

At the Pan-American Conference sitting in Lima, if reports do not lie, twenty-one republics have united in addressing a. clearly-worded warning to the aggressor nations of Europe. The American republics admittedly speak largely from the standpoint of their own self-defence, but their interest in the course of world affairs is far from being wholly parochial.

In the United States, particularly, there have been developments that, point with some promise to a better future. Vigorous and repeated protests have been made by the American Government against the application of penal decrees in Germany to Jews of American nationality. The State Department has rejected emphatically a sharp Note of protest by Germany against a recent speech by the American Secretary of the Interior (Mr Harold Ickes) in which he declared, amongst, other things, that her persecution of the Jews had carried Germany back to a period in history when man was “unlettered, benighted and bestial.” Now, it is reported, the State Department is planning to distribute surplus United States wheat in order to prevent starvation and the spread of disease among Spain’s civilian population, and has also invited other nations to give food or money.

Both in tin* light they east upon developing' thought and in their indication of a growing’ disposition to extend practical help to tin 1 victims of outrage and oppression, these items of news are to be welcomed most heartily. There has never been greater need of enlightened and united action by the freedomloving nations than there is today. That events are in some measure tending to that action does not necessarily moan that the world is committed to a war of democracies against dictatorships. Bold and purposeful concerted action by the nations sincerely intent on peace may, indeed, lie Hie only alternative to a finally disastrous’confiict.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GREETINGS.

J£TND messages of Christmas greeting and good wishes have been received by the “Times-Age” from many quarters— Departments of Stale, local (indies and organisations of various kinds, business firms and others. All such messages arc' acknowledged gratefully, and not acknowledged only, but reciprocated most sincerely and heartily. To those Io whom we are thus indebted for the expression of gracious thoughts, appropriate to the season, and to all our readers, we wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.