WAR'S AFTERMATH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 21, 20 October 1919, Page 3

WAR'S AFTERMATH

\' PROBLEMS BEFOid3 EUROPEAN NATIONS. In a letter received by tho last English mail Mr. John I, Fox, hon. 6Ccrotary and organiser of the British Scction of tfle New Zealand Returned. Soldiers' Association, oxpresses his views concerning the situation in Europe. Mr. Fox writes;— "The New Zealand soldiers have nearly dll gone. In a few days tho visitation of our boyo to Franco and England should bccome a memory and a rich pago in the Empire's history. Since, my arrival here 1 have teen privileged to meet all sorts of people. I, have discovered from- tliem opinions about the N.Z.E.F., of which the people of Now Zealand should be proud. They have played the game and played it well. Kiglit throughout the .United Kingdom the 'Digger' is flcll-known. His bsariug and manner liavo been splendid, and mucli admired. Many homes in this old land have learned to know, something of the country and its people where he came from. Thousands are, so to 6peak, acquainted with our hills, mountains, lakes and rivers, and are always casting eager glances to becouic settlers. Now's the time to evolve schemes to shape the future destiny of tho country. We ought to start examining intending settle™, or selecting them. To any keen' observer it must be apparent that-Eu-rope, with its tragic memory and experiences of the war, with its huge •problem's to crcate a new world, has got a great task before It. i venture to predict that t.ne natives in the Pacific will have to come to the aid of. the Old World. Just as it lias taken centuries to create the present conception of things, with all its conventionalities and complex social systems, so it will take time to change things. Whilst that process is slowly going on it is .the duty of those who I loved'their freedom and country in time of need, and came from aiar to protect it. to still carry oil their enthusiasm to serve in the new approaching epoch. National aims and a national character must bo dealt with, apart from purely domestic affairs. Men and women must realise that unless thoro things are taken in hand. ■ strange forces may overtake the world.' and not only darken the outlook. but destroy that which humanity has cherished.