GREAT UNITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20105, 26 March 1928, Page 5

GREAT UNITY

ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION LUNCHEON TO DEAN BUSSELL Although hurriedly arranged, the luncheon hold by the Welliug.on Eng-lish-Speaking Union in honour of Deaa Russell, PhD., LL.D., of Teachers’ College, Columbia, was one of the most interesting yet held. Mr A- Treadwell presided, and apologised for tho absence of Sir Frederick Chapman (president) and Lady Chapman, and of” Mr L. Hunt (chairman), who were out of town, and the Mayor (Mr G. A. Troup) and Mayoress.

Mr Treadwell said that those who served in Franco and who met Americans there realised that “they were one of us,” and vice versa. Both together would be a mighty power for good. The English-Speaking Union was trying in its small way to bring these two peoples together, and to impress upon all the idea of a united brotherhood. No one had done more for this friendship than W. H. Page, American Ambassador to England during the war. Dean Russell said he brought from the ordinary citizen of America best wishes for the future. Since being here he had felt that if he could not be an American he would like to be a New Zealander. He felt there was less difference between the two peoples than between some parts of America. His mission here was to learn what had been undertaken in the field of education. For thirty years he had been an administrative officer of the Teachers’ College, Columbia University, and students had visited them by thousands from all parts of the world, especially from South Africa. Thought Internationally. Referring to Walter Page, he said he had campaigned with him iu the back countries of the Southern States many years ago, and Page had later been one of the trustees of Teachers’ College. He had always thought internationally and was a great example of what we all might bo if wo knew each other better. If we could have thousands of people interchanging such visits as his own he felt there need be no fear for the future peace of the world, for it was quite true that you could not wholly dislike what you thoroughly knew- The English-speaking peoples were the only ones who wore really interested in democracy. So far in history there had never been a democracy which had lasted more than a hundred years. Thu permanent States of ~he ancient world were those founded on a military system, ecclesiastic, or social castes. It remained to bo scon whether our democracy could last, if so, we should prepare for the future, for a democracy could not stand still — it had to go forward or back. The three great agencies for this preparation were the Church, the school, and the home. In America the Church was much divided, and was not such au influence as it used to be. The home today was changing. The past genera-, tions were isolated; to-day, with fast motors, aeroplanes, telegraph and wireless, we no longer lived confined in a small circle. Our children were familiarised with what the ■world was doing; they were listening in or reading about the world. In this connection the Dean said he -wished the Press in America would give more news of the world and would send to the Press of New Zealand something besides scandal. Hu -was particularly ashamed of the false idea of American life given by the movies. The English-Speaking Union could do a great deal in these matters. Lightening the Burden. Returning to his point, the speaker said it was only recently that England politically was more democratic than America, but not socially. Tho Dominions here stood in the forefront of holding an idea of life different from any the world had ever seen, and New Zealand had gone further than any in the way of lightening the burden of the masses. Could we carry these ideals to success? was the question Delore us, or must we sink as other democracies had done?

Education iu the past had been only designed for those at the top. Children to-day came to school living question marks. If the school did not supply what they wanted then they were getting their education outside, and what kind of education this was we knew from the newspapers and periodicals, wireless and the moving picturesWe had to supply education for children of all classes and degrees, and tne question was, what kind of leadership was being supplied and what of followers were being trained? We had a different conception of following today. The greatest problem was To teach the masses of the people to appreciate leadership and learn themselves how to do an honest day’s work. In America they wore getting a splendid opportunity for this in their vocational training.

Mr M. Barnett proposed a vote of thanks to Dean Russell, which was passed. Mr Barnett said a few words of welcome to the Dean’s son, who was also a guest.