MORE THAN CORONETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 15, 18 January 1936, Page 7

MORE THAN CORONETS

Dear People, The Duchess of Portland is making ! a World Appeal for support of a new humanitarian publication, the first of its kind in history. The objectives of the journal in question—“ The International Journal of Animal Protection” —are the interchange of mutual advice and encouagement as between kindred societies throughout the world. The project has been put into execution on the motion of Mr. G. Lanwiii who, speaking French as to the manner born at the 18th. International Congress held in Brussels recently, brought forward his plea for the creation of this powerful international organ. Mr. Langwill is Secretary to the Scottish S.P.A. and |is in direct contact with three hundred and five kindred societies in ail parts of the world. It was only in 1928 that the great Scottish society decided to include in its regular reports a sec lion devoted to Foreign News; and i from this small innovation has arisen lhe present important international venture. Modesto a ses debuts,” says Mr. Langwill, prophetically, ‘‘JI deviendra bientot un instrument inestimable pour le progres des reformes human i tai res! ’ ’ The new literary instrument for the prosecution of international humanitarian reforms will constitute a daring house for the receipt and dissemination on a world scale of authoritive data regarding the varying customs in different countries in regard to Animal Wellfare, the difficulties to be encountered, special aims, laws, methods and channels of work for reform in connection with thp (are of animals. In support of the project inaugur- ! ated by the Brussels international Conference and in the course of her World Appeal for subscribers to the new international journal, the Duchess of Portland says: “All who have at heart the promotion of international goodwill and the protection of birds and animals must rejoice that a medium is now forthcoming through which may be voiced the aspirations of fellow workers in all lands and in which may be recorded their successes, whether practical educational or legisScientific Internationalism. In lhe domain of zoological sociology, the Duchess of Portland and Mr. I.angwill are appealing for samples, with a view to their scientific investigation and documentation in lhe interests of international humanitarianism, of the. legislative and educational atmosphere?, surrounding the problems ot. animal welfare in the various count lies of the world. In another department ol li’e, love and labour, Professors Paneth and Gluckauf. of the Imperial College of Science, Loudon, are at the piCseut time conducting investigations itt’.o the I component of the atm u-phercs- ot Kussia Britain, Germany, Sweden, the United States, Central A meric < and over lhe Atlantic. These ta j noted scientists are now (ailing fur sampler of air and of the stratosphere Ju be sent to them from other and more distant parts of the world, for the purposes of comparison of atmosn-u les t.nd stratosphere at all available points m space. Without samples of the atmos phere and stratosphere of New Zealand and environs, it is to be presumed ihat any researches on the line? mentiontd would not. be consider? t (om- j pletc! and there if- no doubt, that the I physical scientists of the Dom n ; o.i w : | not bp slow io co-operate with Professors Paneth and Gluckauf iu lheir important analyses. It is a -egr Me fact, however, that— physics apart New Zealanders as individuals have not as vet evinced any strong spirit of international co-operation. The average New ’Zealand is at present devoid of any burning sense of responsibility to link himself up in service with the various movements that work on the one hand with the world-wide activities of the League of Nations and on the other hand with the corresponding State iDepartnients of their own particular countries and which Departments constitute the ultimate means of establishing in actual fact the humanitarian ideals of Hie League. And the averag? New Zealander is still unaware, after nearly twenty years of its existence, that the international operations of the League cover every aspect of ‘human weTfare, including the questions of hours and conditions of labour for men. women and children, the prevention and control of physical and ment.il disease, research into nutrtion and a special department for child welfare. Humanitarian Internationalism. The Duchess nf Portland now offer? an avenue for the demonstration of international goodwill on lhe part of lovers of birds and animals. Moreover, the University of London A.W.B. has for rears past constituted itself a medium'fui international rapproachment un questif us concerning animal welfare, having appointe 1 < • rresponding memben oi it own Cci-ncil in Algeria, the Baltic- States, Canada, China, France. Greece, India. Italy. Syria and I unisia. Ten university colleges are represented in this great international Animal Welfare Society, one of which is the Otani University at Kyoto. Japan. Kepresentati •*s of the I niversity of New Zealand ate conspicuous by thei. absence. A definite proposal was las’ year placed before thp New Zealand university colleges that the Dominion should institute a branch of the ■ nn'xPi’ity educative work nt present being carried on in many parts of the worio under the auspices, was not favourable received. The educative work in qu( r tion is a matter quite distinc: and s»‘] arato from the activities of rll other stcieties for the protection of birds and animals, and lies specificallv in the dilection of training university’ s‘-iden‘s—the future teachers, jounr.ilis s and moulders of the thought of the community—iu a scientific, attitude of m ,d in regard to thp many problems of ai'.n’al welfare. Yours as ever.

(To be continued;.